Since 2008, face to the threat posed to Spanish ships and interest by pirate groups operating in the Somali coast, the Spanish Navy has established a NCAGS Cell (Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping) within its Maritime Surveillance and Operations Centre (COVAM)  in Cartagena. This cell permanently monitors pirate activity within the area bounded by parallel 15º00' S, meridian 065º00´E and the coast line.

Services provided by the cooperation cell.

The COVAM compiles all information available on the activity of pirate groups within such area, issuing warnings and providing security information for all those vessels of Spanish national interest which voluntarily join the cooperation system by sending a Format ALFA form.

Directions to those ships willing to join the cooperation system.

1. All Spanish-flag ships planning to transit the aforementioned area are encouraged to join the cooperation system, by sending and receiving information to the COVAM on the security situation in the area. Whilst the cooperation is purely voluntary, all ships are invited to use this system, which has been established to improve their security in an area where pirate activity has happened for years.

2. To do so, they must download the Formato ALFA form and fill-in the MS Excel spreadsheet which is accessible from the link below.

DOWNLOAD FORMAT ALFA (MS EXCEL): Format ALFA in Excel format

Once completed, the file must be e-mailed to:  at least 24 hours before entering the area.

Please enter the following text as subject for the e-mail: Format ALFA ATALANTA.

3. Upon receiving the Format ALFA, the COVAM will:

a. Contact the sender, providing him with a series of general security recommendations regarding his transit.

b. Send him a weekly summary of the pirate activity in the area.

c. Monitor the movements of the ship along her transit and, if applicable, send alerts whenever there is any evidence of an incident that may affect the vessel´s security.