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Operation ATALANTA confirms the liberation of the Iranian-flagged dhow ALWASEEMI, hijacked 400 nautical miles East of Mogadishu on 24 March.

As stated, pirates abandoned the dhow after sustained pressure from Operation ATALANTA assets, acting in close coordination with Somali maritime police forces.

On 5 April, the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel ALWASEEMI was successfully liberated after being held by a pirate group off the northwestern coast of Somalia. The pirates ultimately disembarked under mounting pressure from ATALANTA forces.

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Two Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers were stopped by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards near the Strait of Hormuz on 6 April, despite an earlier agreement allowing safe passage.

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Over the past week, 31 March-6 April, no incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia.

Area of concern

Ships shall to continue to intensify vigilance, maintain a sharp look-out while anchoring or transiting areas of concern, including the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and report all incidents to the law enforcement agencies immediately; and the littoral States to increase patrols and enforcement in these areas.

Situation of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah

For a 6th consecutive year, there has been no report of incident of abduction of crew in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah. The last incident occurred on 17 Jan 2020. In January 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), coordinated with other stakeholders and counterparts further downgraded the threat level of ‘Abduction of crew for ransom in the Sulu-Celebes Seas’ to ‘LOW’, meaning ‘No information or monitored activities suggest an impending attack; hence incidents are not expected to occur’.

In its Advisory on 14 Feb 2025 advised ships to “exercise vigilance when transiting the Sulu-Celebes Seas and report incidents to the Operation Centres of the Philippines and Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM)”.

Also, to maintain communication with the relevant authorities when transiting the area.

Recommendations

Ship master and crew are to report all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the nearest coastal State and flag State, referring to the Poster on the Contact Details for Reporting of Incidents of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia, exercise vigilance and adopt appropriate preventive measures taking reference from the Regional Guide 2 to Counter Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia.

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The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued an accident report regarding an incident where an Ordinary Seaman was fatally electrocuted after coming into contact with energized electrical equipment inside a crane pedestal.

The incident

A vessel was berthed at the Port of Arzew, Algeria, preparing its cargo holds for loading granular urea. During these preparations, a portable light projector was connected inside the pedestal of one of the cranes to illuminate a cargo hold for survey and inspection activities.

Later that evening, an Ordinary Seaman (OS) was assigned to tidy the deck area as part of the cargo preparation routine. While carrying out this task, the OS entered the crane pedestal space, where the light projector remained energized.

Shortly after midnight, the OS was found unresponsive inside the pedestal, with the light projector still connected to a 220-volt socket. The crew immediately initiated emergency procedures and de-energized the area to enable recovery efforts. Despite the prompt response, the OS was pronounced deceased by attending medical authorities.