On April 3, a cargo dhow – Al Kausar –with 10 Indian crew members was hijacked by Somali pirates and taken off Somalia’s coast at Hobyo. The vessel was carrying wheat and sugar from Dubai via Yemen to Somalia’s Bossaso Port. After a few days, on April 12, Somali security forces rescued 9 of the 10 Indian crew members.
What happened?
In the aftermath of the recent piracy attacks at the Gulf of Aden, the Directorate General of Shipping has issued an advisory to Indian vessel owners to refrain from sailing in the troubled zone.
An advisory note issued:
The advisory mentioned that it is due to the recent piracy attack on an Indian vessel on the coast of Somalia region.
The Korean Naval Ship, UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and International Maritime Bureau (IMB) have shared information with the Indian authorities regarding the hijacking of an Indian mechanised sailing vessel transiting the Gulf of Aden, off Socotra Island.
This was the third hijack in a span of less than a month around the same coast.
Serious concerns stated:
“Having serious concern of stated facts of the hijacking of the mechanised sailing vessel by a pirate and understanding the fact of the mechanised sailing vessel not being able to track and monitor through Long Range Information Tracking system, all sailing vessel association are strongly advised not to transit the Gulf of Aden,” reads the advisory.
In the case of larger Indian ships, the owners, operators, and masters have now been cautioned not to enter the troubled region by keeping their vessels “well clear of this region” and maintaining a safe distance– at least over 200 nautical miles–from the coasts of Socotra Island and Somalia.
“Those who violate the instructions and decide to operate their vessels in these waters would be doing so at their own risk only,” the note issued by Captain Santoshkumar S Darokar, deputy director general of Shipping (technical) and Nautical Surveyor mentioned.
Insurance premium may be impacted:
The recent spate of incidents combined with this advisory may have a direct impact on insurance premium being paid by shipping companies.
Did you subscribe for our daily newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe!
Source: DNA
