A renewed piracy threat near Somalia has sparked concerns after reports emerged that Somali pirates seized another dhow that could potentially be used as a “mothership” for future attacks on commercial vessels.
The dhow was reportedly hijacked on May 9 while en route to Kismayo, Somalia. The vessel was operating off the country’s southern coast when the incident occurred.
In response, European naval forces participating in Operation Atalanta were notified immediately and deployed assets to assess the situation.
In a separate development, security officials in Somalia’s Puntland region told AFP that an Emirati dhow hijacked by Somali pirates last month has since been abandoned in the Arabian Sea after the group failed to use it in attacks on other ships. The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) also confirmed that the dhow hijacked on 25 April 2026, is no longer believed to be under pirate control.
AIS tracking data indicates the vessel is now safely heading toward the Gulf of Oman.
According to JMIC, the piracy threat level remains SEVERE in the Somali Coast and Somali Basin.
Three merchant vessels currently held:
- Oil/products tanker – held since 21 April 2026
- General cargo / cement carrier – held since 26 April 2026
- Oil tanker – held since 02 May 2026; taken 10 NM off the Yemen coast and diverted toward Somali waters; status unconfirmed.
The three vessels remain within Somali territorial waters and are not considered an immediate threat to merchant shipping in the region.
However, a recent incident reported in the Gulf of Aden between May 9 and 10, in which a merchant vessel was approached by two groups of small boats, highlights that pirate action group (PAG) activity remains highly likely along the Somali coast and across the Somali Basin.
Analysts say the resurgence in attacks near key global shipping routes may be linked to reduced international naval patrols and Somalia’s limited maritime security capabilities.
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