Hijacked Chinese Vessel And Its 18 Crew Members Released By Somali Pirates

A Chinese-owned fishing vessel, Liao Dong Yu, was hijacked off the coast of Somalia in late November 2024. The ship and its 18 crew members were held by pirates in the Puntland region of northeastern Somalia.

On January 13, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia confirmed that the vessel and crew were freed and safely on their way to “safe waters.”

The Chinese government said the crew was unharmed and praised the “unremitting efforts” made for the release.

The pirates had demanded a ransom of $10 million, but it is unclear whether any money was paid. The hijacking happened in late November when pirates with AK-47s and machine guns boarded the Liao Dong Yu off the Somali Coast.

The vessel was taken to the Xaafuun district in Puntland, a region known for piracy.

The European Union’s naval mission, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, first reported the incident in December, classifying it as an “armed robbery” because it happened within Somali territorial waters, not international waters.

Atalanta had been in contact with both Somali and Chinese authorities throughout the situation.

After the hijacking, the pirates initially asked for $10 million in ransom. Reports later suggested that the Chinese government offered $300,000, then raised it to $1 million, but the final decision remains unclear.

The Chinese embassy did not confirm whether money changed hands but it did talk about the strong cooperation between China and Somalia during the rescue efforts.

Piracy off Somalia’s coast has decreased significantly in recent years. In 2011, piracy was at its peak, with over 160 attacks recorded. Though incidents have dropped since then, there has been a noticeable increase in piracy activity since November 2023.

EUNAVFOR recorded 44 piracy-related incidents in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin since November 2023, 28 of which were hijackings or attacks.

Pirates often use smaller vessels, like dhows as “motherships” to launch attacks far from the coast.

Experts believe that the removal of the High-Risk Area designation for the Indian Ocean in January 2023 has led to more attacks, as pirates now have more freedom to operate.

EUNAVFOR worked closely with Somali and Chinese authorities to monitor the situation and help with the release.

The Chinese Embassy thanked the Somali government for its support, saying any attempts to interfere with the China-Somalia cooperation would fail.

Pirates continue to target commercial vessels, and ransom demands are becoming a growing concern. Experts also warn that successful ransom payments could encourage more attacks on ships in the region.

Reference: AP News

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