ALBAWABA - Concerns over a resurgence of piracy in the region were raised when the UKMTO revealed on Saturday that an oil tanker had been taken over off the coast of Somalia.
The organization reports that the incident took place on Tuesday in eastern Somalia, around 90 kilometers northeast of Marero. According to military officials, unauthorized individuals seized control of the ship and redirected it into Somali territorial waters some 77 nautical miles south. No other details on the crew or cargo have been released to the public.
A higher chance of piracy
The latest incident is part of a series of recent attacks that suggest piracy in the Horn of Africa may be returning. Somalia was a global hub for piracy prior to coordinated multinational naval patrols and enhanced onboard security measures; incidents peaked in 2011 before sharply declining.
However, UKMTO warned that recent occurrences demonstrate a "real threat of piracy," pointing to another incident earlier this week in which armed individuals seized over a fishing vessel flying the Somali flag.
Strategic significance
Security concerns in the region have grown as sea routes become increasingly vital, particularly in light of delays in other significant waterways like the Strait of Hormuz.
Somali government have not yet issued a formal response to the tanker hijacking, but monitoring groups are still keeping an eye on activities in the area.
