Yemen - Security
Overall Crime and Safety:
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is still advising against all travel to Yemen. This includes the mainland and all islands. Their advice is that if you’re in Yemen, you should leave immediately.
Cruisers are strongly encouraged to avoid the coastline of Yemen. Socotra is the only place which is relatively safe for cruisers. Wade Alarie, admin for the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group, advises; “Cruisers need to be aware that both government and other armed elements are sometimes seen in the area. A yacht’s passage could easily be mistaken by either government or opposition forces and that may bring unwanted attention. In May 2022, there was an attempted boarding of a French trimaran by (what I believe to have been) anti-government forces between the mainland of Yemen and the Hanish Islands. Just – stay away from mainland Yemen, and particularly from the Hanish Islands.”
Maritime Issues:
- While yachts are transiting the Red Sea successfully (54 between February and June 2024) there were several unsettling incidents involving yachts being approached by small skiffs with several men aboard. See this report for the latest updates.
- Red Sea: Majority of Yachts Completing Successful Transits
- Vessels are strongly advised to avoid passing between the island of Socotra and the African mainland, while those approaching from the east through the Gulf of Aden should stay well clear of both the Somali and Yemeni coasts, as both are considered to be dangerous.
- EUNANFOR Atalanta has put out a strong warning (May 2024) for the area around Socotra island closer to Yemen. EUNAVFOR Atalanta have warned that at least two groups are thought to be active in that area.
- While it is commercial vessels that are being targeted, yachts should be aware of the current situation if planning a transit to or from the Red Sea.
- While the number of pirate attacks off the Horn of Africa fell dramatically since 2011, with only eight reported attacks in 2017, three in 2018 and none in 2019, EUNAVFOR Atalanta is reporting that since November 2023, there has been a notable surge in reported events that could potentially escalate into piracy attacks off the Somali coast. See this Piracy Threat Update from Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) as well as their current Advice for Sailing Vessels.
- Jabal Zugar and Hamish Islands: Keep away from this area. A yacht stopping for emergency repairs in February 2016 was shot at from ashore. Current local advice is that is is very dangerous to come close to the Yemeni islands in the Red Sea, especially Honiesh.
- Aden: Used to be a useful stop on the way to or from the Red Sea, but it fell to rebels in April 2015 and cruisers warn that Aden is now very hostile.
- Northern Yemen doesn’t encourage visitors and should be avoided. Three Polish yachts were fired upon off the main port of Hodeidah in December 2017.
- See also this news item Worrying Piracy Incident of Cape Verdes which has additional information from EUNAVFOR/Atalanta.
Reported Incidents:
- February 2016:Yacht sheltering at Hanish Islands (Jazirat al Hanish al Kabir) was shot at several times from ashore. See report here.
- December 2017: Three Polish yachts fired upon 20nm SW of Hodeidah. See report here.
Last updated: July 2024
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Socotra report 2024 from Renaissance III
Sailing from Maldives 1200 nm to Socotra took 7 days and we contacted Yasser at I am Socotra ship agency, WhatsApp +967777655566. check in was simple and hassle free, anchorage was 400m west of the port jetty in 5 meters with a good holding sand bottom position N12 40.780 E54 4.649. Cost of visa 150USD each POB going ashore. We also took a 2 day camping trip to the Dragon Blood Tree forest and the lagoon. Worth every cent. Getting fuel was possible but expensive, food was cheaper as there are small grocery stores and a fresh market 20 mins from the Port. This is not Yemen, the locals were friendly and the island is super safe. Worth a stop and a tour. Yasser arraigned a local guy to watch the boat and run the genset daily for our fridges and batteries.
Socotra Report from Denis Romanov of Socotra Tamam Agency:
Last year, some yachtsmen who stopped at Socotra faced certain difficulties. Some of them were not allowed to go ashore. This was due to the presence on the island of soldiers from the Emirates and the tightening of the security regime.
This year, with the advent of the new governor and the withdrawal of the military from the Emirates from the island, the situation has changed for the better. All papers are issued to yachtsmen and tourist visas are issued for those who want to see the island.
However, some confusion remains with different authorities. The bad news is that clearance in Socotra has become more expensive. Now we have to pay extra money to two authorities – the coast guard and the security service.
Additional payment is about $115. Thus, the total amount of clearance on Socotra (including agency fees) is $345 now. A tourist visa costs $100 per person, which allows you to travel around Socotra without any problems accompanied by a local guide.
The boat Formidable 3, which made a short stop at Socotra in early December for fueling, watering and buying food, was the first to be faced with new requisitions from the security service and the coast guard.
We hope that the new government of Socotra soon sorted out with unauthorized extortion by security forces in the future the cost of registration of yachts will be as before.
It is possible that in this case it was the payment for urgency (yacht wanted to stay on Socotra only one day), and in the future we can avoid these costs, but the sailors, who plan to stay on Socotra, should be ready for such unplanned spending.
In any case, we will try to minimize your expenses on Socotra.
There is a good person named Adil who will help anyone stopping in Aden. His phone number is +96773707330. I last spoke to him in May 2015. He has transport and knows all the places that would interest sailors.
Posted on behalf of SY Tamarisk:
We visited Aden in January 2014. The port is very hostile and we believe unsafe for cruisers due to out of control military people based there. Agent Omar (listed on noonsite) is dead and the daughter who picks up the phone is mostly clueless. See our blog http://www.tamariskrtw.com/ for more details.
I have visited Aden in March,2014. Very friendly authorities, they ask you to anchor off near tourist port. Good holding at 7m, but be carefull – there are some gas pipes on the bottom – look onshore and on tanker buoys at portside to find it. Go ashore on rib for customs and take shorepass for 3 days – all for free. They will ask some bakshish – I presented caps, it was enough.
You can fill diesel at fuel pier, ask locals to help you. We used taxi driver, pay him 25 USD per day and he assists us to fix all problems. You can legally buy any firearms in Aden: AK-47 cost about 300USD, but you need to take permission to carry it to port – it needs 2-3 days to take it. Good and cheap provisioning in the city, friendly officials – nice port of call.