Maritime authorities are warning of an increased threat to ships off the coast of Somalia after a cargo ship was seized in a suspected act of piracy. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) raised the threat level in the area to 'substantial' and reported that unauthorised persons seized a vessel and redirected it to Somalia's territorial waters on Sunday, six nautical miles off Garacad. At least four vessels have been targeted in suspected piracy incidents in the last week, including a fishing vessel and an oil tanker. Piracy had almost disappeared in this stretch of the Indian Ocean until three years ago, but has since made a comeback.
On 22 April, pirates hijacked the oil tanker Honour 25 with 17 crew sailing near the Somali coast, according to multiple security officials. The vessel was overrun late on Wednesday by six gunmen when it was approximately 30 nautical miles offshore. The crew includes 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one from Myanmar. Under pirate control, the vessel anchored close to the Somali shore between Xaafun and Bander Beyla. Five more armed men have since boarded the ship, and officials believe the hijackers set off from a remote area near Bander Beyla.
Due to the increased threat of possible PAG (Pirate Action Group) activity, vessels are advised to transit with caution.
UKMTO also issued a warning over a separate hijacking off the coast of Mareeyo, northern Somalia on 21 April. At least two armed people attempted to board a cargo ship from a small boat on Thursday, but turned away after the cargo fired warning shots. The seizure of a tanker headed for Mogadishu is likely to increase anxiety in the city where petrol prices have tripled since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran. Neither the Somali authorities nor the European Naval Force has released a statement on the hijacking.