1. Advice to vessels transiting in southern Red Sea, Bab El Mandeb and Gulf of Aden. 
Due to recent attacks against merchant shipping the Combined Maritime Forces have established a Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC). It is recommended that all merchant traffic use the corridor to benefit from military presence and surveillance. 

2. The MSTC will consist of three parts: 

a. The existing Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC)
b. The existing Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) in the Strait of Bab El Mandeb and TSS in the Southern Red Sea - West and South of Hanish Al Kubra.
c. A new recommended two-way route connecting the IRTC and TSS in the Strait of Bab El Mandeb. 

Eastbound corridor bounded by a line joining the following positions: 

12° 32' .15N. , 43° 28' .68E. 
 
 
12° 30' .79N. , 43° 28' .01E. 
 
 
11° 48' .03N. , 45° 00' .01E. 
 
 
11° 53' .04N. , 45° 00' .11E. 
 
 

Westbound corridor bounded by a line joining the following positions:

12° 34' .44N. , 43° 29' .79E. 
 
 
12° 33' .06N. , 43° 29' .12E. 
 
 
11° 55' .04N. , 45° 00' .09E. 
 
 
12° 00' .06N. , 45° 00' .10E. 
 
 

3. The escorted transits and group sailings in the IRTC are unaffected by the MSTC. They will continue to be scheduled as normal.

4. Use of the MSTC is not mandatory and remains the decision of the vessel operator, based on its own risk assessment and requirements of the flag state. 

5. A diagram showing the limits of the Maritime Security Transit Corridor has been attached to the M_NPUB object covering the area.

6. Mariners are advised to navigate with caution in this area.