The Yemeni Coast Guard (YCG)Authority issues a statement explaining the circumstances of the shooting incident in Yemeni territorial waters
  • 28/04/2023
  • This early morning, Friday, April 28, 2023, during a routine patrolling of two YCG’s vessels and a Yemeni Navy patrol vessel(small patrol boats) to monitor a contact of interest (COI) near the coast of Al-Mahra, this was in conjunction with a ship passing near the reported COI’s location, about 6 nautical miles from the coast of Ras Fartak and Hasween, it turned out to be a private yacht named MY KALIZMA (IMO#: 2869864). The patrol boats introduced themselves and tried to communicate with the yacht via the VHF radio- bridge to bridge COMMS, but the yacht captain did not respond to the repeated calls (regular interrogation), as the yacht was sailing in Yemeni territorial waters TTW, wasn’t not flying a flag of any country (unknown)and in a location very close to the Yemeni coast, about 6 nautical miles. 15 31.83 N 052 13.68 E After that, the patrol boats approached the yacht in an attempt to attract the attention of the yacht’ crew to respond to the VHF communication, and to stop, but the yacht began to increase speed and started heavy firing at the Yemeni Law enforcement boats by arm guard onboard (AST - Armed Security Team) refusing to respond to the VHF calls nor to stop for verification. Yemen Law enforcement vessels had to reply shooting. Unfortunately , the shooting resulted in a death of a Yemeni soldier and the wounding of others, and there was some damage to the boats. Then the small law enforcement boats started hot pursuit but the yacht escaped sailing towards international waters. He also issued a false distress call. Based on it the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued UKMTO warning No. 001 April /2023 under the heading "Attack" containing false information from the yacht only, later after getting clarification from YCG to regional partners, it was downgraded from attack to incident. In viewing of the yacht's route before the incident , it was noticed that it passes along the coast in a very suspicious way (to the extent of 4.5 nautical miles from the coast in some places), and it is armed and it is not known what it is carrying. Yacht information: 1. Name: MY KALIZMA The yacht is private and registered in the Cook Islands. 2. The yacht's crew are 9 sailors including a captain - Indian nationalities. 3. The security team on the yacht are 3 PAX : 1 Greek and 2 Indian nationalities. 4. They have modern automatic weapons and snipers. The Yemeni government reserves its rights regarding what resulted from the incident, as the yacht entered the territorial waters of Yemen and sailing without showing the flag of the country of the yacht, as well as refusing to respond to the law enforcement assets and stop, A clear violation of international maritime law and the rules of innocent passage. In addition, the MY KALIZMA does not have any justification nor right to use arm and ammunition in the TTW and he was notified more than once that the vessels are the Yemen law enforcement agencies , YCG & Navy. The crew onboard are military dress as well the boats are of Naval design not a traditional fishing boats.

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