A cargo ship leaving Somalia reported being fired upon by a nearby small boat, which prompted the ship’s security team to return fire. This incident marks the second potential piracy event in the region this week, with EUNAVFOR Atalanta currently investigating the situation. The small boat, described as a white fishing vessel, approached within 600 meters of the cargo ship, seemingly in coordination with another boat. As the cargo ship’s crew fired warning shots, the small boat retaliated before both vessels retreated.
The cargo ship, identified as the Turkish-owned Elfriede, is registered in Barbados and was en route from Mogadishu to Karachi, Pakistan. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the crew, and the ship continued its journey. In light of this incident, the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCIO) has issued warnings for vessels to heighten their vigilance, particularly within 150 nautical miles of the Somali coast, with a focus on the area between Mogadishu and Hafun.
Earlier this week, Atalanta also confirmed an investigation into another potential piracy incident involving a product tanker near Hafun, where armed pirates may have boarded a vessel after hijacking a dhow. The pirates are reportedly employing mother ships and smaller skiffs to blend in with local maritime traffic, extending their operational range up to 600 nautical miles from the coast.
Currently, the period between monsoon seasons presents an opportune time for Somali pirates to target commercial shipping. The southwest monsoon typically begins in May and lasts until October. Since the start of the year, Atalanta has documented five piracy and robbery incidents involving smaller vessels in the Indian Ocean near Somalia, the most recent being the hijacking of an Iranian dhow in late March.
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