Pirates holding a Chinese-owned fishing vessel off the northeastern coast of Somalia have issued a $10 million ransom demand, signaling a troubling escalation in maritime security challenges in the region.
The vessel, seized in late November, remains detained in Puntland’s Xaafuun district along with its 18-member crew, according to reports from the Associated Press.
“The vessel is under the control of armed pirates carrying AK-47s and machine guns,” confirmed the European Union’s Operation ATALANTA, emphasizing that while the crew remains unharmed, the incident has been officially classified as an armed robbery at sea.
This incident is part of a renewed wave of Somali piracy that has surfaced since November 2023, coinciding with heightened Houthi militant activities in the Red Sea. The resurgence comes after a four-year lull in piracy-related incidents in the region.
Other recent cases include the three-month captivity of the M/V Ruen, which ended in an Indian Navy-led rescue operation, and the release of the M/V Abdullah after a reported $4 million ransom was paid.
Maritime security analysts have expressed concern that such ransom payments may embolden pirates to escalate attacks on commercial vessels.
Experts have identified a consistent strategy among pirates, who often commandeer smaller vessels, such as dhows and fishing boats, to use as platforms for attacks extending up to 600 nautical miles from Somalia’s eastern coastline.
In response to the growing threat, the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA has called for heightened vigilance. Vulnerable vessels are being urged to participate in the Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa’s (MSCHOA) Voluntary Registration Scheme to ensure enhanced monitoring and security.
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