Somali pirates seize Iranian vessel with 23 aboard, raising threat to commercial shipping
The hijacking of the Azini near Puntland follows a resurgence of attacks in the Indian Ocean that has disrupted global oil routes and increased costs for tankers.
By Fatou Kim ·
International naval forces have been monitoring a sharp increase in maritime threats across the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. The latest incident involves the seizure of an Iranian fishing vessel by Somali pirates, an event that maritime security officials say could serve as a base for further attacks on commercial traffic.
The Azini was hijacked on Thursday between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia. A maritime security officer with the Puntland Maritime Police Force confirmed the location and timing of the incident on Sunday. He spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to address the media publicly.
According to the officer, 12 pirates took control of the vessel. The ship was carrying 21 Iranian crew members and two Somali security guards. The Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean issued an alert on Saturday stating that the safety of the 23 people aboard remained unknown at that time.
In an updated warning, the center indicated that the pirates might utilize the captured ship as a mother ship to support operations against larger commercial vessels. The vessel was approaching a major commercial shipping lane, increasing the risk of conflict. The European Union’s naval Operation Atalanta began investigating the seizure immediately. The center urged other ships in the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
This incident marks a continuation of a piracy resurgence that began in April. By August, pirates had hijacked six commercial vessels in the region. Some of these attacks occurred far from Somalia’s coastline, such as the seizure of the oil products tanker Sibu 1, which was taken approximately 136 nautical miles east of al-Mukalla, Yemen.
In September, Puntland authorities reported that pirates killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered the ship. The tanker had been held since April. Officials stated that 16 suspected pirates were detained in connection with that incident.
The renewed piracy activity complicates an already difficult shipping environment. The region is currently affected by the Iran war, with attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats from Yemen’s Houthi rebels against Saudi-linked shipping through Bab el-Mandeb. These disruptions have forced longer voyages and raised costs. In September, The Associated Press reported that some oil shipments diverted around Africa faced journeys up to a month longer. Daily spot charter rates for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz reached $1 million.
International patrols had previously reduced Somali piracy over the past decade. The recent seizures have renewed concerns about the threat to vessels operating off the country’s long coastline.
