Somali pirates seized control of a coal-carrying bulk carrier off the coast of Somalia on Tuesday, taking hostage the 23 crew members, as confirmed by the company owning the Bangladeshi-flagged vessel.
Mizanul Islam, a company spokesman, reported that the attack occurred approximately 550 nautical miles off the Somali coast.
The MV Abdullah, loaded with 55,000 tonnes of coal, had departed from Maputo, Mozambique, en route to the United Arab Emirates when it fell under attack on Tuesday afternoon, according to Meherul Karim, director of Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills, the vessel’s owner.
“A group of 15-20 Somali pirates seized the ship,” Mr. Karim stated.
An audio message from one of the crew members, released by the company, revealed that armed men approached the bulk carrier aboard two speedboats and opened fire. Despite the harrowing situation, Mr. Karim emphasized that the crew members were unharmed. “We are awaiting the next message,” he added.
The attack, which follows those on the Sri Lankan-flagged fishing vessel LORENZO PUTHO 4 and the Iranian-flagged OMARI on January 27 and 31 respectively, is the 14th incident of this kind in the Indian Ocean since the end of November 2023.
These incidents off the coast of Somalia evoke concerns of a resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean, a critical maritime route for global trade. This region has already been affected by attacks perpetrated by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen.
In response to the growing threat, international naval forces have repositioned towards the Red Sea from the northern Gulf of Aden. This strategic shift aims to address vulnerabilities in the area and deter potential pirate offensives
