In recent months, piracy activities in Africa have increased sharply. Reuters reported on March 21, citing data from the European Union Navy, that Somali pirates have successfully seized at least 2 cargo ships and 12 fishing boats since November 2023.
The Royal United Services Institute for Defence (RUSI) stated that in the past three months, there have been more pirate activities in the Horn of Africa than at any time in the past six years, with sailors or ships being extorted for high ransom and pirates robbing passengers on board.
Somalia is located near some of the world's important shipping routes, and these attacks pose greater risks and costs to shipping companies.
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud has previously stated that if they are not stopped while they are still in their early stages, the situation may become the same as before.
Somali pirates were active from 2008 to 2018, causing chaos in important waterways in the Arabian Sea of the Gulf of Aden.
According to a report from the International Maritime Bureau, Somali pirates launched 237 attacks and took hundreds of hostages during the peak of their activities in 2011. That year, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy monitoring organization, their attack caused approximately $7 billion in damage to the global economy, including hundreds of millions of dollars in ransom.
In recent years, pirates have been in a dormant state until the end of last year, when they once again emerged. Maritime sources say that pirates may be deployed again due to the chaos caused by the Israeli Palestinian conflict or the Red Sea crisis.
On December 14, 2023, pirates boarded and hijacked the merchant ship RUEN 700 nautical miles east of the Port of Bossaso in Somalia.
On January 4, 2024, pirates boarded the merchant ship LILA NORFOLK at a distance of 470 nautical miles from Somalia and were fortunately rescued by the Indian Navy.
On March 12, 2024, a bulk carrier named MV. ABDULLAH (IMO: 9132923) was hijacked by 20 pirates approximately 600 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia (approximately 1100 kilometers, GPS position 01 ° 49N, 054 ° 25E).
It is reported that the Abdullah, with a captain of 190 meters and a load capacity of 58000 tons, is flying the flag of Bangladesh. It was built in 2016 and was previously named "Golden Hawk". After joining the SR Shipping fleet last year, the ship was renamed "MVAbdullah"
The United Nations Security Council has announced that the anti piracy measures implemented to enhance freedom of navigation along the coast of Somalia have expired in 2021.
According to data from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) of the International Chamber of Commerce for 2023, piracy activities on major global shipping routes are on the rise, based on many key indicators.
Source: Souhang Network
