Somali Pirates Demand Ransom To Release Chinese Fishing Vessel After Being Paid To Protect It

A Chinese fishing boat was recently hijacked by Somali Pirates wielding AK-47 rifles. They have asked for a ransom to release the vessel and its 18-member crew, per authorities.

It remains unclear when the hijacking occurred however European Union’s Anti-Piracy Force drew attention to this incident on Thursday.

Mohamed Dini, a police officer in Eyl, a pirate stronghold on the east coast of Puntland said that the pirates are taking the ship further from the coast.

The incident garnered attention as the boat was hijacked by men who were contracted to protect it before being reinforced by other pirates, Dini added, saying that they were demanding money to release the ship.

Ali Warsame, an elder familiar with the case, said that a Somali Company offered to pay a $300,000 ransom on the boat’s behalf but the offer was declined by the pirates.

Fishermen reported that the boat was seen near Eyl but the pirates pushed the boat into the sea since they might encounter the coast guards. However, they cannot go far out of fear of foreign military vessels.

European Union’s Anti-Piracy Naval Force Atlanta said it was monitoring the event which it classified as armed robbery at sea, though crew members are safe.

This is the latest incident in a surge of Somali pirate activity, after years of lull.

In March, a Bangladeshi Cargo Vessel carrying over 55,000 tonnes of coal from Mozambique to UAE was hijacked by Somali Pirates. The Bulk Carrier MV Abdullah was released after the owners, KSRM Group, paid a ransom which was air-dropped on the vessel.

These latest incidents of vessel hijackings have raised concerns regarding the re-emergence of maritime piracy in the Indian Ocean.

References: The Standard, SCMP

Source: Maritime Shipping News