The UK Department for Transport yesterday raised the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) threat for British shipping to level 3, indicating a high threat of an attack.
It is the highest possible security alert and unprecedented since the ISPS code was introduced in 2004, security experts say.
Maritime security firm Gulf of Aden Group Transits (GoAGT) today warned all international vessels in the region to be aware of suspicious traffic.
The United States closed 20 embassies across the Middle East and North Africa on Sunday after a conversation between al Qaeda’s global head Ayman al-Zawahiri and the organization’s leader in Yemen was intercepted.
Dozens of al-Qaeda members have arrived in the country in preparation for a large scale attack, the BBC said citing Yemeni intelligence services.
Both the US and UK have withdrawn embassy staff from the country and citizens have been told to leave immediately as tension mounts.
A global travel alert issued on Tuesday said: "The US Department of State warns US citizens of the high security threat level in Yemen due to terrorist activities and civil unrest."
The area off the coast of Yemen is notorious for Somali pirate hijackings though attacks have been on the wane since the use of armed guards became commonplace.
