Boatfag Update Report

Scarborough Shoal Area

Taking a look at this area that attracted attention last night. Still a big hole of empty traffic, see the circled area shown in the graphic. Arrows indicate that vessels in the area do appear to be steering away from transit through the empty area. There are clearly transit lanes that do not include the circled area but past observation indicates that some vessels are heading towards but turning away from the area.

Discussion last night centered on 3 possibilities, either a lurking ChiCom cruiser, unlighted navigation hazard situation or some other type of mil ops possibly related to mining. Inclined to go with third, reasons are due to the platform involved. The US is positioning a mobile expeditionary base ship in the area (used for mine countermeasures and special ops) which is not an ideal platform for countering a cruiser or destroyer. Likewise, if it's just a navigation hazard, having a MEB onsite doesn't help, that's a job for bouy tenders and other coast guard-type vessels. It also doesn't really explain why the MEB would be used to deploy AH-64's in the area, either. Either its an exercise or some other type of mil operation.

East Korea Strait

Nothing of note indicated in this area where the USN twatted about Mine CounterMeasures ships conducting exercises there yesterday. The East Korea/Tsushima Strait area has loads of the usual traffic but nothing stands out.

Venezuela same situation. Nothing that appears to be different than the usual traffic. I'm sure the USN has assets in the area but they're not showing, and nothing stands out right now.