Pirates Hijack Iranian Fishing Vessel off Somalia, Mothership Fears Rise
Pirates have hijacked the Iranian fishing vessel Azini in the Indian Ocean, about 185 nautical miles east of Bandarbayla on the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region. The EU naval force’s Maritime Security Centre for the Indian Ocean (MSCIO) reported the attack, which happened in recent days at about 09°42’N 053°55’E, east of the Horn of Africa.
According to a Puntland maritime police officer quoted by AP, 23 people were on board: 21 Iranian fishermen and two Somali security guards. A group of about 12 pirates took control of the vessel. MSCIO says the safety of the crew is still unknown.
By Saturday, 31 October, the Azini had moved about 110 nautical miles further east, to around 09°47’N 055°45’E, heading away from the coast and towards busy shipping routes. MSCIO has warned that the vessel could be used as a mothership, carrying pirates and small skiffs far out to sea to attack merchant ships.
Somali piracy has returned strongly in 2026. Pirates captured about half a dozen vessels over the summer, and in September five hostages were killed on board the tanker Honour 25. Fishing dhows and small vessels are often seized first and then used to launch attacks further offshore.
Ships passing the Gulf of Aden, the Somali Basin and the western Indian Ocean should follow Best Management Practices (BMP Maritime Security), register with MSCIO and UKMTO, and keep a strong lookout for skiffs and suspicious fishing vessels. Crews should be ready to raise the alarm early, increase speed and move to the citadel if pirates approach.
