The EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA has issued a warning to the ships sailing off the Somalian coasts, in the Somali basin to maintain a heightened state of vigilance in light of the recent escalation in piracy threats.
According to ATALANTA’s latest information, Somali authorities confirmed on October 24 that a group of 13 pirates has left Ceel Huur Area, South of Hobyo Port, Somalia and sail towards the Indian Ocean (Somali Basin).
The pirates are armed with AKs and RPGs.
As informed, ATALANTA is currently monitoring the situation and will keep on updating information on the situation.
Meanwhile, it has reported that since the end of November, up to 19 dhows have been hijacked. Whilst most have been released, there have been no further updates on the current situation or whereabouts of several of them.
Furthermore, the ATALANTA has identified several possible pirate logistic locations on the Somali Coasts situated between Xaafuun and the village of Garacad, with a hot spot north of Eyl.
According to ATALANTA, the pirates’ modus operandi typically involves the seizure and hijacking of a dhow, which is subsequently utilized as their mother ship. They then blend in with usual traffic and deploy skiffs from the mother ship to attack vessels navigating as far as 600 nautical miles or more, off the East Somali coast.
“The possibility of attacks in the Gulf of Aden should not be ignored, mainly in the eastern side,” it warns.
After a vessel is seized, most probably this is taken to the Somali coast and held there while ransom negotiations are ongoing.
Since the end of November 2023, multiple incidents involving piracy and hijacking have taken place in the Somali basin.
In its update on the piracy threat off the coast of Somalia, it strongly recommended that “all vessels adhere to the Best Management Practices Version 5 (BMP5), paying a special attention to the drill of security measures before sailing off Somali coasts.”
