Suspected pirates seize vessel carrying cement off Somalia, the second hijacking incident in days

The vessel had departed from Egypt and was heading to the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. It was not possible to verify how many people were on board the vessel.

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — Today, on Monday, a local maritime security official said that a cargo vessel carrying cement and sailing under the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis had been hijacked off Somalia’s coast. An operations officer from the Puntland Maritime Police Force, who was not authorised to brief the media and so spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the ship was seized off the Somali coastal town of Garacad.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade (UKMTO) Operations also reported the incident, citing a hijacking six nautical miles northeast of Garacad. The vessel had departed from Egypt and was en route to Mombasa, a port city in Kenya. It was not possible to verify the number of people on board.

Nine pirates had boarded the vessel.

The official from Puntland stated that nine pirates had boarded and commandeered the vessel. “The ship is currently in the hands of armed men, and we are monitoring the situation,” he added.

In less than a week, this is the second hijacking incident; on Wednesday, an oil tanker was seized in waters off the coast of Puntland. The tanker had departed from the port of Berbera and was en route to Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, when it was intercepted.

Somalia's coast was experiencing a significant drop in piracy. 

Over the past decade, the level of piracy off Somalia's coast has fallen significantly. This is because international naval patrols and improved maritime security have made the seas around Somalia safer. In the past, piracy in this area was among the most dangerous in the world. However, sporadic incidents continue to raise concerns about a potential resurgence.

On Sunday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) raised the threat level in the area to 'substantial' after reporting that 'unauthorised persons' had seized the vessel and redirected it towards Somali territorial waters.

Related : The ReCAAP ISC did not receive any reports of piracy against ships in Asia over the past week.

In the last week alone, at least four vessels have been targeted in suspected piracy incidents, including a fishing vessel and an oil tanker. Until three years ago, this stretch of the Indian Ocean, once notorious for hijackings, had almost become free of piracy. However, it has since seen a resurgence.

The heightened threat of potential PAG

On the other hand, the UKMTO stated that, 'in view of the heightened threat of potential PAG (Pirate Action Group) activity', vessels should exercise the utmost caution when navigating, as the prevailing weather conditions are conducive to the operation of small vessels. In a statement, the UKMTO said that the hijacking on Sunday occurred six nautical miles off Garacad in Somalia. No further details were reported. A separate hijacking off the coast of Mareeyo, northern Somalia, which occurred on 21 April, was also warned about by the UKMTO.

Hijacked the Honour 25

According to multiple security officials who spoke to the BBC, it is noteworthy that pirates also hijacked the Honour 25 oil tanker (IMO 1099735, MMSI 511101862 -  sailing under the flag of Palau), which had 17 crew members on board, near the Somali coast on 22 April.

Source : Agencies + Image : BBC

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