Somali Pirates Seize Fishing Boat, Alerting Merchant Ships

The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa has issued an urgent warning to shipping regarding a recent hijacking incident by Somali pirates. A fishing vessel located approximately 69 nautical miles east of the Somalia coast was overtaken by a skiff carrying six to seven armed pirates. The pirates seized the vessel, and its AIS tracker is currently inactive. Security consultants Neptune P2P Group noted that piracy attacks have been on the rise in the region over the past year and are expected to increase in frequency and scale.

Atalanta has reported that multiple pirate action groups (PAGs) are believed to be operating off the coast of Somalia, impacting areas such as Socotra and extending up to 1000nm off the coast. A recent incident involved a product tanker engaging in gunfire with pirates, leading to their capture by the Spanish frigate Canarias. The pirates were arrested and will be prosecuted in the Seychelles, in accordance with legal agreements permitting the prosecution of pirates captured by warships in the area.

Neptune P2P’s data reveals a total of 31 piracy incidents as of the end of April, with 19 confirmed hijackings since November 2023. The recent hijacking comes amidst heightened concerns about piracy activities in the region. Atalanta’s warnings about the presence of multiple PAGs off the Somali coast underscore the ongoing threat faced by merchant ships in the area.

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