The Bow-Orion: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On September 9, 2020, the 'Bow Orion,' a tanker navigating the southern Bab-el-Mandeb Strait at coordinates 12°22.07N 043°48.00E, faced a potentially dangerous situation when a suspicious high-speed craft approached. The encounter took place around 6 a.m., with the craft carrying ten armed individuals closing in from the port side of the vessel, coming as close as 0.4 nautical miles. The armed men on board signaled the tanker to halt via VHF radio. However, the 'Bow Orion' swiftly increased its speed and initiated its emergency lockdown procedures. The security team aboard positioned themselves on the bridge, ready to respond to any threats. Prior to this incident, the same craft had previously attempted to communicate with a bulk carrier, falsely identifying itself as part of the Yemeni Coastguard. The situation underscores ongoing security concerns in these waters, making vigilance crucial for vessels operating in the area.