Gulf of Aden Super Convoy – updated

Received from Joost Jager on 3rd January 2010

How to go through the Gulf of Aden to the Med as safe as possible? It isn’t an easy question to answer. One option to consider is joining the super convoy for the passage from Salalah to Aden. It is called super convoy because there will be at least 20 boats in the group. The assumption is that this large number of boats and a well-organized response to any potential threat will deter pirates from attacking.

The convoy will be led by Lo Brust, organizer of the Vasco da Gama rallies. Lo has led big convoys through the Gulf of Aden three times before without problems. He knows how to organize a thing like this and make sure that all boats not only agree to the convoy rules beforehand but also when underway (this seems to be a real challenge with so many boats). In addition to this, he is in contact with several organizations, like the Yemen Coast Guard, and he arranges that they keep an extra eye on the convoy.

The departure of the convoy from Salalah is in the first week of March. The speed of the convoy is 5 knots. Smaller boats should also be able to make this because of a slight favorable current that is present. The route will be maximum 10 miles off the Yemen coast. The costs are dependent on the number of boats, but no more than 200 euro per boat.

My initial investigation showed that there are more than enough boats interested and therefore it is now possible to officially register for the convoy. To register, payment of a non-refundable 50 euro deposit is required. Also note that there is a maximum of 40 boats in the convoy and positions will be assigned on a first come first serve basis. For more information, please contact me on the email address below.

Regards,

Joost Jager

SV Hafskip

Email: joost.jager@gmail.com

Editor’s Note: For tips on forming your own convoy and planning a safe passage through the Gulf of Aden see other reports on the convoy page. Cruisers should take care when joining an “organized” convoy and be confident of the group leaders’ capabilities and judgment before setting out.

Gulf of Aden Super Convoy – Original message posted 3rd December 2010

Going through the Red Sea to the Med or not? It is not the easiest cruising question to answer these days. To make things safer, I am investigating the possibility of forming a super convoy of at least 20 boats for the passage from Salalah to Aden. The assumption is that a large number of boats and a well-organized response to any potential threat will deter pirates from attacking.

The convoy will be led by Lo Brust, organizer of the Vasco da Gama rallies. Lo has led big convoys through the Gulf of Aden three times before without problems. He knows how to organize a thing like this and make sure that all boats not only agree to the convoy rules beforehand but also when underway (this seems to be a real challenge with so many boats). In addition to this, he is in contact with several organizations, like the Yemen Coast Guard, and he arranges that they keep an extra eye on the convoy.

The departure of the convoy from Salalah will be in the first week of March. The speed of the convoy will be 5 knots. Smaller boats should also be able to make this because of a slight favorable current that is present. The route will be maximum 10 miles off the Yemen coast. There will probably be some costs to be covered, but the operation will not have a commercial character.

At this stage, I am trying to determine whether enough boats are interested in joining the proposed super convoy. If you are interested, please send me an email with your boat name as soon as possible.

Regards,

Joost Jager

SV Hafskip

Email: joost.jager@gmail.com