Naval forces monitoring hijacked dhow off Somalia’s coast

MOGADISHU, Somalia — International naval forces are closely monitoring an Iranian-flagged dhow hijacked by suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia, maritime security agencies reported Wednesday.

The vessel, identified as the Al Waseemi 786, was reportedly seized approximately 400 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) flagged the incident as a "probable piracy event," warning that the dhow is likely being used as a "mothership" to launch further attacks on commercial shipping in the Indian Ocean.

Maritime authorities have issued a "strong advisory" for all merchant vessels to maintain a distance of at least 200 nautical miles from the last known position of the hijacked craft.

The hijacking marks a resurgence of concern for regional maritime safety. While piracy off the Somali coast had declined significantly over the last decade due to intensive international patrols, analysts note a recent uptick in activity. This follows a period of heightened regional tension and the diversion of some naval assets to the Red Sea to counter threats from Houthi rebels in Yemen.

"The situation is being monitored closely by regional and international naval assets," a spokesperson for the monitoring center said in a statement. "At this time, there is an active investigation into the group responsible, which is believed to be a pirate action group operating far from the coastline."

No information has been released regarding the condition or number of crew members aboard the Al Waseemi 786.

The Indian Navy and EUNAVFOR’s Operation Atalanta have intensified their surveillance in the area. In previous weeks, naval forces successfully intercepted several pirate-occupied skiffs, though this latest seizure indicates that groups continue to possess the capability to strike deep into the Indian Ocean.

Shipping companies have been urged to adhere to Best Management Practices (BMP5) and to report any suspicious activity to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) immediately.

GAROWE ONLINE