Armed Intruders Board Liberian-Flagged Vessel Off Somalia Coast

The British maritime security company Ambrey and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) jointly reported an alarming occurrence involving a bulk carrier flying the flag of Liberia off the coast of Somalia on Thursday. In the southeast near Eyl, Somalia, a gang of five to six armed unauthorised people boarded the ship, which was headed to Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain, according to a UKMTO statement.

This alarming incident draws attention to the worrying rise in marine security threats in the area. The Liberian-flagged vessel, which is currently being boarded without authorisation, highlights how open the shipping lanes close to Somalia are to armed assaults and piracy. The fact that the incident happened just 458 meters southeast of Eyl highlights how close the occurrence was to the Somali shore.

Ambrey added more background to the incident’s possible consequences by restating the vessel’s destination as Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain. The presence of armed persons during the commercial vessel’s boarding raises concerns over the crew’s safety as well as the reasons for the act.

The rapid and efficient dissemination of this information by UKMTO and Ambrey underlines the significance of maritime security organisations in addressing and responding to situations of this nature. Incidents such as these serve as alarming indications of the continued difficulties faced by ships passing through dangerous areas, as concerns about piracy and maritime security continue to be global issues.

Reference: Reuters

Armed Intruders Board Liberian-Flagged Vessel Off Somalia Coast appeared first on Marine Insight – The Maritime Industry Guide

Source: Maritime Shipping News