A DORSET adventurer is preparing to sail through the pirate-infested waters off Somalia in his quest to recreate the first circumnavigation of Africa.

Philip Beale of East Chaldon is leading the Phoenician Ship Expedition, which departed from Syria in August. The crew has now reached Port Sudan in the authentic replica of a 600 BC Phoenician ship.

The ship’s arrival in Sudan marks the completion of the first two legs of the journey, which will progress down the east coast of Africa and around the Cape of Good Hope.

The ship sails for Yemen next week, and the Phoenicia must negotiate the Gulf of Aden, where Somali pirates have recently captured the world’s attention after seizing the oil tanker Sirius Star and demanding a multi-million pound ransom.

Expedition leader Philip said from Port Sudan: “We are naturally concerned by the increasing threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and now the growing threat of piracy south of Somalia and on our planned route towards Mombassa.”

To avoid the Somali threat in the Gulf of Aden Phoenicia will sail between 25 and 30 miles from the Yemen coast and will take precautions such as seeking an escort or travelling in convoy with other sailing vessels.

A long-range acoustic device (LRAD) is also on the ship to warn off, deter or ultimately incapacitate pirates who attempt to come on board.

Philip continued: “We are very fortunate in that we are being assisted by Drum Cussac, one of the leading maritime security agencies based at Poole. The threats are nevertheless very real and we will be monitoring the situation closely as it develops over the next few weeks.”

Before leaving the UK, members of the core crew were given a training session from Bob Haddow, security advisor at Drum Cussac. No firearms have been taken on board, which will reduce the risk of a fatal incident through misunderstanding or a firefight, and the relevant NATO naval patrols have been alerted to Phoenicia’s intentions.

The last three months’ odyssey has not been without challenges on board the 70ft vessel, which was designed using historical and archaeological evidence from shipwrecks found in the Mediterranean dating back to 600 BC.

The ship has been put to the test after having major problems with the rudders, its main steering mechanism, and has also struggled getting into and out of the harbours with a crew too small to row a vessel of its size.

As a result of the high cost of these tows– as much as $750 for a short tow of just a mile – Philip and his team have taken the decision to install a small 180 horsepower engine in the replica Phoenician ship.

Project manager for the expedition Alice Chutter said: “It raises an interesting question of what the Phoenicians would have done, but evidence points towards the fact that they would have sailed in crowded vessels with plenty of strong rowers on board. It’s also possible they may have anchored a fair distance offshore and rowed in smaller boats to the shores of Africa and the Mediterranean.

“So in Port Sudan Philip and the team have sourced a second-hand truck motor – a DAF 620, 180 horsepower engine – which has been marinised and Phoenicia is currently in the dry dock undergoing the work to fit this.”

In addition to this, while it is in the dry dock at Port Sudan, the team of engineers, naval archaeologists and sailors working on the ship have created a new housing device for the rudders.

Philip said: “This is a pioneering expedition so we know that we have many challenges ahead, but the reward is to learn about the Phoenician sailors and their voyage almost 3,000 years ago.

“Support for the expedition is growing by the day and it is fantastic to see how a project like this can inspire people of all ages, cultures and nationalities.”

The expedition enjoyed a fantastic send-off in August from Arwad Island, Syria where the vessel was constructed.

Syria’s First Lady Asma Assad sailed on board the ship for her maiden voyage at the official launch ceremony, which was attended by more than 200 VIPs and international press. Sailors from across the globe join Philip in a crew of up to 20 people that includes 23-year-old John Bainbridge from Weymouth, who was selected to be part of the core crew throughout the expedition.

The circumnavigation should be completed in summer 2009 and will be followed by another voyage to bring the ship back to the UK in autumn 2009. In total, the voyage will cover 17,000 miles.

Over the coming months the Phoenicia team will keep in touch with their supporters from the South West by producing a monthly blog for the Dorset Echo.

For more information on the expedition, visit www.phoenicia.org.uk