Incident Alert – Potential Piracy Incident off Somalia

Incident Details

Unverified reports suggest that a fishing vessel was hijacked off the coast of Somalia and may be used to conduct pirate activity in the Indian Ocean region. The reports state the Chinese Fishing Vessel (FV) LIAONING DAPING 578 was hijacked near Garmaal, Somalia, and may now have as many as 40 armed pirates on board. This incident has not been confirmed officially by regional authorities.

Fig 1. Location of Incident and Potential PAG Operating Area

Comment. This is the first report of possible pirate activity in the area since the end of the Indian Ocean Monsoon season, raising the risk of a piracy attack against commercial vessels transiting the region. If confirmed, this is the 22nd FV hijacked since November 2023, according to figures released by the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA).

Assessment. It is likely that the Chinese FV was seized by locals because it was conducting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activity in Somalian territorial waters. This type of activity was the precursor for the latest resurgence of piracy which began last year. Reports that the seized vessel is now being used by a Pirate Action Group (PAG) are not substantiated but should not be ignored. During the recent spate of piracy incidents, PAG have operated up to 800nm from the Somali coast, we therefore, advise ships transiting the area to be cautious given the heightened level of risk of a piracy attack. We recommend ship operators implement BMP 5 counter-piracy measures and consider using an Armed Security Team while transiting the region. BMP 5