Piracy concerns are rapidly increasing in the Horn of Africa region, after two ship hijackings and other suspicious incidents were reported in the western Indian Ocean, prompting maritime security officials to raise the threat level for the region.
In its latest assessment, the Joint Maritime Information Center said the Somali coast faces a significant piracy threat.
“There are multiple indicators that indicate a significant piracy threat in the region,” the warning said, urging ships to remain on high alert and report any suspicious activity to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and MSCIO shipping security watchdog.
The warning comes after pirates seized two merchant ships off the central coast of Somalia within hours of each other last week, both of which were diverted into Somali territorial waters.
The new incidents show that the threat is not limited to one location. On May 1, a cargo ship passing through the international waterway IRTC reported approaching a small boat with seven armed men on board, approximately 92 nautical miles southwest of Al Mukalla, Yemen.
A few days earlier, an oil tanker about 500 nautical miles east of Somalia also reported approaching several small boats, including one believed to be a speedboat, but turned back when it saw armed guards.
The remoteness of these attacks has raised particular concerns among security analysts, who believe this indicates a resurgence of piracy, which could enable them to carry out attacks further off the Somali coast.
