U.S. Coast Guard Updates Anti-Piracy Directive

On January 13, 2011 the Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register another update of its anti-piracy guidance which is mandatory for U.S.-flag vessels and recommended for all other vessels. That guidance – Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directive 104-6, Guidelines for U.S. Vessels Operating in High Risk Waters – was most previously revised on December 3, 2010. The change made in the publicly available version of the most recent update (Rev. 5) is to address the expanding operating area of Somali pirates and provide additional guidance for U.S.-flag vessels operating in the Indian Ocean, in the wake of several attacks almost a thousand miles from Somalia, made possible by the use of large hijacked vessels as motherships.