A new report has been released about the recent piracy events in the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin by the European Union Naval Force (Eunavfor).
The Atalanta piracy situation report published on February 23 reveals that has not received any alerts for more than 15 days, “resulting in significant uncertainty.”
The latest alerts involve the hijacking of six dhows between January 11th and January 29th, with a more recent incident involving the FV AL AMIN on February 7th, wherein it was approached by a skiff carrying height armed individuals.
Five groups of pirates may be operating in the eastern Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, the EU naval force warns.
“Cinematic considerations and the provided data suggest the possible activity of five Pirate Action Groups (PAGs) in the eastern Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, with their operational range extending north of Eyl up to a distance of 1000 nautical miles,” as it is reported.
However, as of now, the available information on this situation remains notably limited, Eunavfor mentions.
As it is revealed, pirates are likely operating from Mother Boats, scouting for targets in areas with favorable sea conditions for boarding.
These remote locations are less likely to be patrolled by international forces. Pirates typically approach vessels to assess the presence of armed security teams onboard before attempting to board.
The report warns that “vessels transiting through this area should consider adopting enhanced security measures and maintaining communication with MSCHOA and UKMTO to stay informed about potential threats and updates.”
