Somali Pirates Hijack A Chinese Fishing Boat, Posing A New Threat To Shipping
The EU operation Atalanta monitors a hijacked Chinese fishing boat off the northeast coast of Puntland, Somalia.
It was confirmed that the vessel, which remains in Somali territorial waters, was controlled by armed pirates carrying AK-47 rifles and machine guns, and the 18 crew members were not injured.
European naval officials in Atalanta said: “After investigation, the incident was characterized as armed robbery at sea.” The EU Naval Forces actively engage with Somali and Chinese authorities and the EU Mission in Somalia while monitoring the situation.
The incident is the latest development in the massive resurgence of Somali piracy that began in November 2023, coinciding with the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea region. These recurring incidents include multiple hijackings of dhows and fishing boats, as well as the seizure of prominent merchant ships: the MV Ruen was seized in mid-December 2023 and rescued by the Indian Navy after three months of detention; the MV Abdullah was seized in mid-December 2023 and rescued by the Indian Navy after three months of detention. He was kidnapped in March and released a month later, apparently after a large ransom was paid.
Intelligence reports in late October indicated that a group of 13 heavily armed pirates, equipped with AK-47 rifles and RPG rocket launchers, had departed from the Sil Hor area near the Somali port of Hobia. Just a day earlier, the Chinese bulk carrier Huanhang 99 reported that five ships were suspiciously close to the vicinity of Aden, Yemen.
The situation marks the end of a period of relative calm in the region due to the monsoon, which usually keeps pirates away. According to EUFOR, the most recent hijacking in the region took place in May when the F/V KALIIJI was hijacked.
Maritime security experts say the Somali pirates’ strategy is often to hijack dhows and fishing boats as mother ships so they can launch attacks in the Indian Ocean up to 600 nautical miles off the east coast of Somalia.
To counter these threats, EUNA VOR ATALANTA strongly urges vulnerable vessels to register with the MSCHOA voluntary registration system for enhanced monitoring and protection.
The region remains listed as a high-risk area for commercial shipping as maritime security concerns grow.
