A recent spike in piracy incidents off Somalia has culminated in the boarding of a Maltese-flagged tanker approximately 700 nautical miles offshore Mogadishu, marking a significant escalation in regional maritime risk.
Latest Incident and Response
The vessel was illegally boarded by unauthorized personnel after being approached by a small craft that fired small arms and RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) toward the ship.
- Crew Status: All 24 crew members retreated safely to the vessel’s citadel (fortified safe room) and are accounted for.
- Location: The incident occurred approximately 560 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia.
- Naval Response: EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta confirmed that a Spanish frigate asset is in the vicinity and is closing the distance to the scene, though it was approximately 30 hours away at the time of the report.
Pirate Action Group Activity
The boarding is the latest in a series of attacks attributed to an active Pirate Action Group (PAG) operating far out in the Indian Ocean. Security experts believe the same group has been active for about eight days.
- Previous Attacks: The group attempted two prior attacks on November 2 (on a fishing vessel) and November 3 (on another commercial tanker).
- Chemical Tanker Attack: Just days before the latest incident, on November 3, the chemical tanker successfully repelled an attack approximately 330 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, with the onboard armed security personnel returning fire against the assailants.
Resurgence of Somali Piracy
This wave of attacks confirms a broader resurgence of Somali piracy that began in late 2023, coinciding with the Houthis attacks in the Red Sea corridor.
- Tactics: Pirates are using hijacked dhows as “mother ships” to extend their operational range hundreds of miles into the Indian Ocean.
- Historical Precedent: Operation ATALANTA documented a series of incidents in 2024, including four merchant vessel boardings and two notable hijackings.
- Security Advice: Maritime authorities had previously advised vessels to avoid a 100-nautical-mile radius from the November 3 attack location and stressed that timely and comprehensive reporting of suspicious activity is crucial for a rapid international response.
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Source: gCaptain
