Incident Alert – Maritime Authority Warns of Pirate Action Group Leaving Somalian Port |
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Date: 17 December 2023 |
Position: Unknown |
Location: Indian Ocean |
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Incident Details
The Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) released an Alert stating that they had received reports of a Pirate Action Group (PAG) having recently left the east coast of Somalia, near Eyl. MSCHOA state that it cannot be ruled out that potential pirates are using a mothership to assist in their activities. MSCHOA advises vessels to keep well clear of this area and to exercise extreme caution if in the vicinity.
Comment
This event has been confirmed by Somali authorities in Puntland. It is thought likely that the vessel being used as a potential mothership is one of the Iranian fishing vessels seized by locals in November. The vessel was allegedly involved in Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing in Somalian territorial waters. The intentions of the PAG are unknown but commercial vessels are advised to remain well clear of the Somali coast, comply with the counter-piracy advice given in Best Management Practice 5 and register their transits with the UK Maritime Trade Ops.
