Thursday May 23, 2024
Nairobi (HOL) — The European Union's anti-piracy force, Operation Atalanta, is responding to a reported attack on the Liberian-flagged merchant vessel Basilisk off the coast of Somalia. The incident highlights the resurgence of piracy in the region, which had been dormant until late last year.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that an unknown number of unauthorized people from two small craft boarded the Basilisk approximately 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The vessel, managed by Germany’s MINSHIP, was en route from Porto Grande, Cape Verde, to Jebel Ali in the UAE.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that an unknown number of unauthorized people from two small craft boarded the Basilisk approximately 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The vessel, managed by Germany’s MINSHIP, was en route from Porto Grande, Cape Verde, to Jebel Ali in the UAE.
Somali pirates caused significant disruptions in the waters off East Africa between 2008 and 2018. Although pirate activity had subsided, recent incidents suggest a troubling resurgence. Earlier this year, the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Almeraj 1 and the Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier Abdullah were hijacked, the latter released after a ransom was paid.
The UKMTO report initially placed the incident 420 nautical miles southeast of Merca, Somalia. As the situation unfolds, further updates are expected from Atalanta forces.