Despite the threat of al Qaeda to vessels in the area, EUNAVFOR believes that the Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor (IRTC) is free from Yemen threat.
The UK placed its vessels on a LEVEL 3 security footing last week, and security experts urged other flag States to follow suit.
The IRTC is a massing point of vessels transiting the area – however, Commanders in  the area believe the fact that the distance off the coast provides adequate protection,
The Corridor is 60 NM at it closest point to the Yemen, that is believed to be sufficient to insulate it from the current security threat.
An attack by “al-Qaeda elements” at a gas terminal in Yemen killed five soldiers on Sunday, a military source said. “The attackers arrived in a car at the army checkpoint near the Balhaf terminal. They opened fire with automatic weapons, killing five soldiers before fleeing,” the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
With the ability of pirates to take to small craft and strike against shipping, it is to be hoped that al Qaeda has not learned to ape this capability.
Via: http://www.shiptalk.com/
