Suspected pirates have hijacked a cargo vessel named Sward off the coast of Somalia and are sailing it towards the Somali coastline. The incident occurred near Garacad, with reports indicating that nine armed individuals boarded the ship. According to maritime security groups Vanguard and Ambrey, the 15-person crew comprises two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians.
Key Takeaways
Suspected pirates have hijacked a cargo vessel named Sward off the coast of Somalia and are sailing it towards the Somali coastline. The incident occurred near Garacad, with reports indicating that nine armed individuals boarded the ship. According to maritime security groups Vanguard and Ambrey, the 15-person crew comprises two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians.
The vessel was en route from Suez, Egypt, to Mombasa, Kenya when it was hijacked. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident took place 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad. Vanguard reported that the Puntland Maritime Police Force has been notified and is monitoring the situation.
The hijacking marks a resurgence in pirate activity off the coast of Somalia, which had seen a significant decline between 2018 and late 2023. The increase in attacks coincides with reduced anti-piracy patrols as resources were redirected to address threats from Houthi rebels in Yemen.
The recent hijacking comes amidst heightened tensions in the region due to disruptions caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz during the United States-Israeli war on Iran. This has led some ships to divert through the Suez Canal or take longer routes around the Cape of Good Hope.
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