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TO: OPERATORS OF U.S. FLAG AND EFFECTIVE U.S. CONTROLLED VESSELS AND OTHER MARITIME INTERESTS

1. THIS MARAD ADVISORY ON MARITIME CRIME IN NIGER DELTA AREA OF NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS ORIGINATED FROM THE NATIONAL MARITIME INTELLIGENCE CENTER, OFFICE OF NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

2. NINETEEN ACTS OF AGGRESSION AGAINST VESSELS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE NIGER DELTA REGION SINCE SEPTEMBER 2007. SIXTEEN INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN RIVERS STATE IN THE VICINITY OF BONNY RIVER BETWEEN PORT HARCOURT AND BONNY. THREE OCCURRED IN THE VICINITY OF ESCRAVOS IN DELTA STATE.

3. A LEADING NIGER DELTA MILITANT GROUP SAID ON 10 JAN 08 THAT IT SPONSORED "FREELANCE FREEDOM FIGHTERS" WHO REPORTEDLY SHOT AT SIX OIL INDUSTRY SHIPS ON 09 JAN 08, AND THREATENED A BIGGER ATTACK.

IN AN EMAIL TO THE MEDIA LOOSELY IDENTIFIED GROUP REFERRED TO AS THE MOVEMENT FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF THE NIGER DELTA (MEND) SAID IT SPONSORED GUNMEN WHO SHOT AT SIX OIL INDUSTRY VESSELS IN THE BONNY RIVER CHANNEL, IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED. "MEND WILL BE SUPPORTING THESE SMALL INDEPENDENT GROUPS TO HARASS AND SABOTAGE THE OIL INDUSTRY AT WILL," THE GROUP SAID. MEND IS AN UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR SEVERAL HEAVILY-ARMED MILITIAS IN THE NIGER DELTA, AN IMPOVERISHED REGION OF MANGROVE-LINED CREEKS AND SWAMP WHICH IS HOME TO MOST OF NIGERIA’S OIL RESERVE.

4. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2007, THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF EXCESSIVE FINES LEVIED BY NIGERIAN DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ON CREWMEMBERS FOR VESSELS CALLING ON NIGERIAN PORTS. THE PORT OF LAGOS HAD 24 INCIDENTS OF CONCERN REPORTED BY MARINERS IN 2007.

5. EXTREME CAUTION AND VIGILANCE SHOULD BE EXERCISE IN NIGER DELTA AREA OF NIGERIAN WATERS.

6. US-FLAG VESSEL OPERATORS AND OWNERS SHOULD REFER TO THE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS DETAILED IN THE MOST RECENT MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6, GUIDELINES FOR U.S. VESSELS OPERATING IN HIGH RISK WATERS, DATED DECEMBER 29, 2005 WHEN OPERATING IN NIGERIAN TERRITORIAL WATERS.

A COPY OF THE CURRENT MARSEC DIRECTIVES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR LOCAL USCG CAPTAIN OF THE PORT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING MARSEC DIRECTIVE 104-6, CONTACT LCDR MALCOLM MCLELLAN, VESSEL ACTIVITIES (CG-5432), VESSEL SECURITY PROGRAM MANAGER, PHONE:

202-372-1223 EMAIL:

7. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY, CONTACT THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SECURITY, CODE MAR-420, 2W23-312, 1200 NEW JERSEY AVE, SE, WASHINGTON, DC 20590; TELEPHONE 202-366-1883, OR BY E-MAIL TO

8. SUSPECTED ACTIVITY OR ACTUAL PIRACY/ TERRORIST INCIDENT REPORTING GUIDANCE IS PROVIDED IN MARAD ADVISORY 05-01.