Manuel Cedeño Berrueta (asker) Jan 6, 2007:

solutions to the guessing game Hi again.
I wanted to let you that after many pages (a dozen of them handwritten) full of abbreviations, acronyms and symbols (including , , ,≤,Ø,,), I finally reached the statements of these guys where they use normal language and whole words.
The solutions to this guessing game are as follows:

ASSA => at-sea space accountability
BT => boarding team
ISI => (basic) initial safety inspection
ROA => right of approach
TOI => target of interest

Many thanks for your invaluable help, especially to Bill Gray, Jack, JC and Ken for your answers, and also to Airmail, Emma, Heinrich, Kurt and Mehmet (I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone) for your comments.

Best regards.
Manuel

Kurt Porter Jan 5, 2007:

It's either target or tracks (as Jack said). NO way is it task...

jccantrell Jan 4, 2007:

If you look at the link I provide for US Homeland Defense, they are looking probably for drug boats, ahem, possible terrorists, in that presentation. I still go with 'Target of Interest.'

Manuel Cedeño Berrueta (asker) Jan 4, 2007:

More context: The ship is manned by members of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the US Coast Guard. They are on a joint counter drug operation, have seized a vessel with a shipment of drugs and detained the vessel’s crew.
Now they are under way to meet the Venezuelan Coast Guard in order to transfer the seized vessel and the arrested persons.
A key part of the watch is to keep an eye on the prisoners.
Thanks for your help.