24 Nov 2023 | 06:16 PM UTC
Somalia: Suspected pirates hijack Iranian-flagged fishing vessel 62 NM south of Ras Hufun Peninsula Nov. 22
Suspected pirates hijack Iranian-flagged fishing vessel 62 NM south of Ras Hufun Peninsula, Somalia, Nov. 22; further hijackings threatened.
Suspected Somali pirates armed with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades hijacked the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al-Meraj 1 approximately 62 NM (115 km, 71 miles) south of the Ras Hufun peninsula early Nov. 22. The hijackers are demanding a USD 400,000 ransom and have threatened to use the vessel to carry out further hijackings if the ransom is not paid. It remains unclear how many crew members the Al-Meraj 1 had on board or what their current status is. Preliminary reports suggest the vessel may have been targeted due to local Somali fishing communities' anger over Iranian vessels allegedly engaging in Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF) in Somali waters.
A heightened naval security presence is likely in the vicinity of the incident in the coming days. Further attacks and hijackings are possible.
Exercise a high degree of caution if operating in piracy-prone areas. Ship operators should implement best management practices to mitigate piracy-associated threats. Companies should regularly review their ship security assessment and plan under the International Ship and Facility Security Code (ISPS), particularly in piracy-prone areas. Companies are advised to maintain strict anti-piracy watches and report all pirate activity, including both actual and attempted attacks, as well as suspicious sightings, to local and international naval authorities.
Instances of Somali piracy have declined significantly in recent years, with this decline demonstrated by the removal of the High Risk Area (HRA) in the waters off Somalia and the northern Indian Ocean by several insurers Jan. 1, 2023. The last successful hijacking took place in 2017, while the last attempt occurred in 2019. Despite the lifting of the HRA, occasional incidents involving gunfire towards vessels and thefts have occurred, and the waters of the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Arabian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and north-western Indian Ocean remain in the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Voluntary Reporting Area (VRA).
