Maritime Security Patrol Area

"I have just come home from Port Said, after successfully commanding a slow speed laden bulk carrier through the Gulf of Aden.

We followed the courses through the MSPA (Maritime Security Patrol Area) corridor, which is patrolled by naval fleet.

--Captain Vinayak Anant Marathe, India (2008) The Maritime Security Patrol Area (MSPA) is a specified patrol zone in the Gulf of Aden and Guardafui Channel.

Its borders are unmarked, but are a narrow, rectangular corridor between Somalia and Yemen, within the northern sector of the gulf.

The MSPA was established 22 August 2008 by the Combined Task Force 150, (CTF-150) a multinational, coalition naval task force in order to deter de-stabilizing activities, including piracy within this maritime geographical area.