Somali pirates, believed to have hijacked the Maltese-flagged cargo ship Ruen in December, are suspected to have utilized the vessel in the recent takeover of a Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship off the coast of Somalia, as reported by Reuters.
The recent attack on Tuesday, if confirmed to have been orchestrated from the confiscated Ruen, signifies a return to previous tactics employed by pirates during their peak activity, Reuters notes. Visual evidence suggests that around 12 suspected pirates boarded the Bangladeshi vessel, Abdullah, as reported by the EU’s anti-piracy operation EUNAVFOR.
Although the crew of Abdullah is reported to be safe, concerns arise that the hijacked vessel might be used as a mothership for further attacks on merchant ships, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey.
Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) had raised concern over recent Somali piracy activity in the Indian Ocean. MSCHOA had warned that the most likely scenario is that the pirates are operating from Mother Boats, searching for targets in areas where the sea conditions allow for boarding. These remote locations are also less likely to be patrolled by international forces. The pirates approach vessels to assess whether there is an armed security team on board.
The Ruen, distinguished by its black hull, red deck, and yellow smokestack with a red stripe, was sighted sailing eastward southeast of Eyl, Somalia, Reuters reports. This hijacking marks the first successful seizure by Somali pirates since 2017 when international naval efforts curtailed piracy activities in the region.
