About UKMTO

Warning: UKMTO warnings notify the maritime industry of attacks, boardings, hijackings, and other maritime security incidents occurring within the UKMTO Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA). They provide timely alerts to Masters and Company Security Officers (CSOs) to support risk awareness and decision making.

Advisory: UKMTO advisories are security-related reports received within, or relevant to, the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) that do not meet the BMP criteria for issuing a warning. They are published to maintain situational awareness and provide industry with information on maritime security developments within the region.

A VRA is a defined geographical area where vessels are encouraged to report their movements and security-related concerns to UKMTO. Reporting supports enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness and enables timely assistance if required.

The following event definitions are aligned with BMP Maritime Security (BMP MS) terminology and classifications wherever possible:

Hijack: Attackers take control of a ship against the crew's will for purposes such as robbery, cargo theft, or kidnapping.

Kidnap: Unauthorised forcible removal of one or more persons from a vessel.

Attack: Aggressive approach or hostile action against a vessel, including the discharge of weapons or missiles, or the impact of loitering munitions on or near the vessel. Illegal Boarding: Boarding of a vessel without lawful authority and with intent to steal, cause harm, or commit another criminal act, without taking control of the vessel.

Attempted Boarding: A close approach to a vessel with visible boarding paraphernalia or indicators of intent to board, where the boarding is unsuccessful or prevented by defensive measures.

Suspicious Activity: Unaccountable actions, behaviours, or circumstances that may indicate a potential threat to a vessel. Indicators can include unusual equipment, unusual vessel behaviour, abnormal crew numbers, high-speed approaches, multiple skiffs, unusual vessel types for the location, or other activity inconsistent with normal maritime operations.

Contact UKMTO immediately via the 24/7 emergency telephone number +44 (0) 2392 222060 or submit an Incident Report using the online eForm.

As soon as possible following any suspicious activity, attack, boarding, distress situation, or security-related concern.

Provide vessel details, location, date and time of the incident, description of events, actions taken, and whether assistance is required.

Yes. If in doubt, report it. Even seemingly minor or uncertain observations may contribute to a broader understanding of activity within the region.

Start by reviewing the Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA) guidance and reporting formats available on this website. If you are unsure about reporting requirements or need assistance, do not hesitate to contact UKMTO directly. Our team is available 24/7 to provide guidance and answer any questions you may have.

Reporting enhances maritime situational awareness, supports incident response, and helps UKMTO maintain a trusted maritime picture across the region.

Vessels are requested to submit:

1. Initial Report upon entering the VRA.
2. Daily Report at 0800 UTC whilst transiting the VRA.
3. Final Report when exiting the VRA or entering port.

Reports can be submitted using the UKMTO eForms available on the reporting page on this website or by email to [email protected]

No. Reporting is voluntary; however, vessels are strongly encouraged to participate when operating within a VRA to enhance safety, security, and shared awareness across the maritime community.

Partner Products are information products, updates, and guidance published by trusted organisations for the maritime community and regional maritime security centres. These products are produced, maintained, and updated by their originating organisation. UKMTO hosts and shares these products to support maritime information sharing and improve access to relevant maritime security information.

The UKMTO website acts as a central hub for hosting Partner Products, helping to provide a broader maritime security picture and ensuring mariners have access to relevant information from multiple trusted sources.

Please contact the originating organisation directly. Contact information for Partner Product organisations can be found on the Contact page of this website.

Subscribers receive UKMTO Warnings, Advisories, products, and Partner Products directly by email.

Yes. UKMTO subscriptions are provided free of charge to support maritime safety and security.

Complete the online subscription request form available on the UKMTO website home page.

All subscription requests are reviewed and approved by UKMTO operators to ensure distribution lists remain accurate, relevant, and focused on legitimate maritime stakeholders.

Yes. Subscribers can request changes to their contact details or unsubscribe from the service at any time, please contact UKMTO at [email protected]