Pirates Hijack Bulk Carrier Off Somalian Coast

A ship under the Bangladeshi flag named Abdullah, with a crew of 23, fell victim to a piracy attack in the Indian Ocean, approximately 600 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, on Tuesday. The incident involved suspected Somali pirates commandeering the vessel.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) disclosed receiving intelligence from the ship's "company security officer" about several armed individuals who had boarded and seized control of the vessel. Additionally, maritime security firm Ambrey detailed that the assault was executed using two boats, one small and one large.

In a distressing turn of events, the ship's chief officer, Atiq Ullah Khan, managed to convey an audio message to his spouse, revealing a dire ultimatum from the pirates: they threatened to execute the crew members one by one unless a ransom was paid promptly. This communication was reported by Bangladeshi news outlets. Khan also informed his mother that the crew was confined in a cabin by approximately 50 pirates, en route to Somalia, a journey expected to take around two and a half days.

The vessel, a supramax bulk carrier constructed in 2015 and operated by SR Shipping, a subsidiary of the Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM) Group from Bangladesh, was transporting coal from Maputo, Mozambique, to Hamriya, UAE, at the time of the hijacking.

Prior to the hijacking, Ambrey noted the Abdullah's sudden change in course to the southeast and an increase in speed, which was eventually decreased to one knot. The firm also recommended other vessels to maintain a safe distance from the affected area.

The latest update from UKMTO indicates that the crew remains unharmed, with 22 unauthorized armed individuals confirmed to be on board.

Somali waters were notorious for piracy incidents, particularly between 2008 and 2012, after which such incidents saw a significant decline for nearly five years. However, recent reports by the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) include an incident involving an unnamed hijacked fishing dhow with 11 armed pirates on board earlier this month. Additionally, in January, the Liberian-flagged capesize Lila Norfolk was boarded by armed pirates 460 nautical miles off Somalia but was later rescued by the Indian Navy.