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Madagascar Flag of Madagascar

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Security:  Piracy
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Misc:  General
General Information for Madagascar
Geo-political:
Capital City: Antananarivo.
Nationality: (noun) Malagasy, (adjective) Malagasy.
Population: 20,653,556.
Communications:
International Direct Dial Code: 261.
Number of Internal Airports: 27.
Major Languages Spoken: English (official), French (official), Malagasy (official).
Economy:
Currency: 1 Madagascar Ariary (MGA) of 100 Centimes.
Main Industries: Meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum and tourism.
Environment:
Territorial Sea: 12 n.m.
Other Maritime Claims: Contiguous Zone: 24 n.m. Continental Shelf: 200 n.m. or 100 nm from the 2,500-m isobath. Exclusive Economic Zone: 200 n.m.
Coastline Extent: 4,828 km.
Climate: Tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south.
Natural Resources: Graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish and hydropower.
Natural Hazards: Periodic cyclones; drought; and locust infestation.
Terrain: Narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in centre.
MEDICAL:  Although there are a number of public and private hospitals in Antananarivo, only routine operations can be handled. If complex surgery is required you will be evacuated either to South Africa or La Reunion. Bilharzia, tuberculosis, rabies, bubonic plague and malaria are common in Madagascar. There have also been reported cases of dengue fever and Chikungunya virus. Outbreaks of cholera occur, particularly during the rainy season (December-April). You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Madagascar you should seek immediate medical attention.
At the end of 2011 there were media reports of an increase in cases of pneumonic plague in the district of Miarinarivo in Antananarivo province. Plague is an infectious disease that can affect animals, usually rodents, and humans. It is usually acquired by flea bites from infected rodents. The pneumonic form of plague can be transmitted person to person. Plague is very low risk for most travellers; however, those living in or visiting plague-endemic areas should avoid contact with rodents. Insect bite avoidance measures should be employed to prevent flea bites. You should avoid mosquito bites and contact with domestic animals such as cows, goats and sheep and the blood, organs or bodily fluids of such animals.
If you have previously visited a country where yellow fever is prevalent, you will need to produce a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever on entry. If you cannot produce a certificate, you will be required to be vaccinated.
Also see General
PIRACY:  Merchant shipping is advised that recent piracy attacks have occurred outside the current pirate activity area which is bordered by 10° 00.00′ S, 060° 00.00′ E. In view of the vast area bounded by 10° 00.00′ S, 060° 00.00′ E, it is imperative that merchant shipping complies with the Best Management Practices (BMP), in order to prevent piracy attacks as much as possible. Regular reporting of ships' positions to UKMTO Dubai and Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) when entering the reporting area bounded by Suez, 10° 00.00′ S, 078° 00.00′ E, will improve the situational awareness of the military forces.
Group Transit Scheme:  Following pirate attacks in the area, this scheme aims to provide mutual protection through the Gulf of Aden, with strategic naval and air support. Vessels join at Points A or B at scheduled times and proceed through the transit corridor together.
  • Point A: 11° 50.00′ N, 045° 00.00′ E
  • Point B: 14° 28.00′ N, 053° 00.00′ E.
Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC):  Co-ordinates:
  • 12° 00.00′ N, 045° 00.00′ E
  • 11° 55.00′ N, 045° 00.00′ E
  • 11° 53.00′ N, 045° 00.00′ E
  • 11° 48.00′ N, 045° 00.00′ E
  • 14° 30.00′ N, 053° 00.00′ E
  • 14° 25.00′ N, 053° 00.00′ E
  • 14° 23.00′ N, 053° 00.00′ E
  • 14° 18.00′ N, 053° 00.00′ E.
The corridor includes the creation of separate eastbound and westbound transit lanes. Each lane will be 5.0 n.m. wide and will be separated by a 2 n.m. buffer zone.
Timings for the group transits are as follows:
Entry Speed Corridor West Corridor East  
(knots) (GMT) (Local) (GMT) (Local)
10 1500 1800 0100 0400  
12 2100 0001 0530 0830  
14 0100 0400 0830 1130  
16 0530 0830 1100 1400  
18 0700 1000 1300 1600  
Masters using the IRTC and those following the group transits are not relieved of their obligation and should continue to maintain a strict 24-hour lookout using all available means to get early warnings of an approaching threat.
Masters are also reminded that all suspicious/attempted/actual attacks reported to coalition warship should also be reported to the 24-hour IMB piracy reporting centre.
Ships transiting the Gulf of Aden are advised to register with the EU. The EU webpage is www.mschoa.org/
Ships/owners are advised to register their details and obtain further information regarding the close support protection/transit corridor details for ships transiting the Gulf of Aden. Ships would be encouraged to conduct their passage through the IRTC in groups based on their transit speed (Gulf of Aden group transits). Military assets (naval and air) will be strategically deployed within the area to best provide protection and support to ships.
Masters are also advised to maintain a listening watch on VHF Channels 16, 8 and 72. Warships make advisory calls, ``Securite'' broadcasts, to announce their location and in turn will also listen for merchant ships calling them.
Pirate Attacks:  The proximity of attacks has spread and taken place off Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles and Madagascar. Pirates are believed to be using Mother Vessels to launch attacks at great distances from the coast, with some attacks taking place up to 600 n.m. from the coast. Two attacks occurred beyond the recommended Long. 060° E. Pirates have been known to operate in/near to positions 00° 43.70′ S, 061° 57.80′ E and 00° 29.00′ N, 063° 12.00′ E, approx. 1,000–1,100 n.m. east of Mogadishu.
Vessels are advised to keep more than 600 n.m. from the coastline and when routeing north/south, keeping east of Long. 60° 00′ E until east of the Seychelles.
In view of the recent attacks, all vessels are advised when proceeding to/from South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia to consider routeing south of Lat. 10° 00′ S and east of Long. 060° 00′ E, avoiding the area between the Somali coast and north and west of the Seychelles. Mariners are advised to report any suspicious boats to the European Union Maritime Security Centre. A 24-hour visual and radar watch must be maintained as early sightings/detection and accurate assessment will allow Masters to take evasive action and increase speed, and at the same time request assistance and escape.
Due to the unprecedented number of Somali pirate incidents, the IMB calls for all Masters transiting the Gulf of Aden, southern Red Sea, off Oman, east coast of Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Seychelles and Madagascar to report all sightings of suspected pirate mother ships to the PRC. This vital intelligence will then be used to identify and target the mother ships. This will enable appropriate action to be taken in response.
Reporting:  Masters are requested to forward the following information to the PRC:
  1. general description (name, distinctive markings, approximate length, construction type, colour of hull and superstructure/accommodation)
  2. photographs (if possible/practicable)
  3. number of persons observed on board
  4. whether any weapons were observed on board
  5. whether any skiffs (number) were towed alongside
  6. ECDIS screen shots/position and date/time
  7. position of mother vessel
  8. course and speed of mother ship when observed
  9. whether an AIS signal is broadcast
  10. whether the vessel has changed course or speed to intercept/shadow vessel movement
  11. any other information that may be of relevance.
SITREP:  PRC Malaysia broadcasts SITREP reports to vessels at 0000 GMT via Inmarsat C (satellite) EGC Safety Net. However, vessels in some parts of the world, that are not considered at risk from piracy, will not receive these messages.
TIME:  GMT plus 3 hours all year round.
HOLIDAYS:  New Year's Day, Commemoration of 29 March 1947, Easter Sunday and Monday, 1 May, Ascension Day, Whit Monday, Independence Day (25 June), Assumption BV Mary (15 August), All Saints' Day (1 November), Christmas Day, Anniversary of the Democratic Republic of Madagascar (30 December). No work possible on these holidays. Overtime rates for all other holidays.
WEATHER/TIDES:  The cyclone season in Madagascar normally runs from January to March. Coastal areas are particularly affected.
Also see General
BANKS:  Limits on the amount of money which can be changed at one time are in place, although these are gradually being relaxed. You should check with individual banks. Western Union and Moneygram operate for inward currency transfers only. Some banks will only change Euros or US Dollars. Travellers' cheques are accepted by most banks. However, there have been cases of fraudulent American Express travellers’ cheques in circulation and some banks now refuse to accept them. The local bank, BMOI, will not accept travellers’ cheques issued by Thomas Cook. Credit cards are accepted at a growing number of outlets in Antananarivo and in the provinces, but their use is still not widespread. A charge of up to 7% of the transaction value is levied. ATMs are increasingly available around the capital and in some of the larger towns. A charge of about 1.5% is made.
The maximum amount of Malagasy currency, the Ariary, you can withdraw at a time is MGA400,000. Some banks will not exchange local currency back into foreign currency. You should ensure you are not left with large amounts of Malagasy Ariary at the end of your stay. Keep transaction slips showing amounts of foreign currency transferred into local currency. Foreign currency of more than EUR7,500 in value must be declared on arrival.
Also see General
CUSTOMS:  www.douanes.gov.mg/
SHORE LEAVE:  The weakening of government authority and rising unemployment, muggings and robberies are occurring with increasing frequency, not only in urban areas but in nature reserves and on beaches. There have also been increasing numbers of robberies from bush taxi passengers. You should keep clear of any street disturbances. You should not leave your bags unattended, or go near unattended bags. You should keep large amounts of money, jewellery, cameras and mobile telephones out of sight when walking in town centres. Avoid walking in city centres after dark.
There have been incidents of armed robbery in some National Parks.
You should also take sensible precautions in crowded areas such as street markets and airports, where pickpocketing is common. You should also be cautious on beaches where there have been reports of attacks and robberies. You should avoid visiting them alone.
In some parts of Madagascar aspects of daily life are regulated by taboos, known as fady. These vary from one region to another. Fady can range from forbidden foods to restrictions in clothing. Some areas subject to fady may be forbidden to foreigners, but these are mainly in remote parts of the country. If you intend to visit remote areas, you should seek prior advice and respect local fady wherever possible to avoid causing offence.
The Malagasy Authorities have recently introduced laws against consorting with female prostitutes.
Also see General
IDENTIFICATION CARDS:  You should carry some form of identification with you at all times when going ashore. The police can and do stop vehicles and pedestrians to check papers, particularly late at night.
Also see General
GENERAL:  Information obtained from UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office website. Consult www.fco.gov.uk/ for updates.