Armed Pirates Hijack Chinese Fishing Boat With 18 Crew Off Somali Coast

Armed pirates have hijacked a Chinese fishing boat with 18 crew members off the northeastern coast of Somalia in the Puntland region. The pirates, some carrying AK-47s and machine guns, have taken control of the vessel, which remains within Somali waters.

The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), under its OPERATION ATLANTA mission, confirmed the incident after being alerted by the Puntland Maritime Police Force.

According to EUNAVFOR, no injuries have been reported among the crew, but the situation is being closely monitored. The naval force has classified the incident as armed robbery at sea because it occurred within Somalia’s territorial waters.

The hijacking was reported after the local police raised an alarm about a possible attack on a Chinese vessel. EUNAVFOR immediately sent assets to the area to gather information and keep a close watch on the situation.

Officials have said that they are in contact with Somali and Chinese authorities to coordinate a response. This is the first piracy-related incident in the area in six months, which has raised concerns about the resurgence of Somali piracy.

The region had seen a lull in attacks, largely due to monsoon conditions that typically keep pirates at bay. However, with the end of the monsoon season, authorities had warned about the growing risk of pirate activity.

Over the past year, piracy incidents have been on the rise in the region. Between November 2023 and October 2024, there were 43 reported cases, including 27 hijackings, boardings, and suspicious activity.

Many of these attacks were linked to Somali pirates, who often use hijacked fishing boats and dhows as mother ships to launch attacks further out in the Indian Ocean.

Recent high-profile cases include the hijacking of the MV Ruen in December 2023 and the MV Abdullah in March 2024. Both ships were eventually released after prolonged negotiations with reports of ransom payments in at least one case.

In October 2024, intelligence reports warned of a pirate group of 13 heavily armed individuals departing from Ceel Huur near Hobyo Port in Somalia.

Although a specific alert about suspicious activity near a Chinese bulk carrier on October 23 was later withdrawn.

In response to these growing threats, EUNAVFOR is urging ships operating in the area to remain alert and register with the Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSCHOA). This allows naval forces to track vessels and respond quickly in case of an emergency.

Reference: Eunavfor

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