Pirates Hijack Bulk Carrier off Somali Coast

The UK Navy’s report of an incident 600nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia involved piracy, according to the UKMTO.

• “The Company Security Officer (CSO) reports that the vessel was boarded by multiple persons from two craft, one large and one small. Unauthorised persons now have control of the vessel,” UKMTO said in a post.
• “The CSO reported that the crew are unharmed and there are 22 unauthorised armed persons onboard.”
• According to Ambrey, the ship was a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier headed to the UAE from Mozambique.
• The incident does not seem to be related to the ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, but rather to Somali piracy.
• Somali pirates, who caused significant disruption in the area until 2018, had been largely dormant until November.
• There have been over 20 hijackings in the Gulf of Aden and Somali basin since November, Reuters said.