Reports indicate that a vessel hijacking occurred on September 10, south of Yemen. Monitoring authorities issued alerts regarding a bulker that was approached and likely boarded while EU operation Atalanta assets were assessing the situation. The UK Maritime Trade Operations noted the vessel was approached approximately 98 nautical miles southwest of Al Mukalia, Yemen. Subsequently, the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) confirmed that the vessel had been hijacked by a pirate group about 38 nautical miles southwest of Balhaf, Yemen.
The hijacked vessel has been identified as the Glamor, a Greek-owned bulker built in 1998, measuring 154 meters in length and registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It has been operating primarily in and out of Djibouti, though little is known about its crew or current circumstances. This incident marks the first reported act of piracy since August 20, amidst a year characterized by a significant rise in such activities, attributed to regional instability and potential support from the Houthis.
The MSCIO and Atalanta are currently monitoring five vessels held in Somalia’s coastal waters, including the recently hijacked Honour 25 and Sward. The situation remains precarious, with ongoing threats from pirate groups in the region. Authorities continue to advise commercial ships to exercise heightened vigilance within 150 nautical miles off the Somali coast, particularly between Mogadishu and Hafun.
