New pirate attack off Puntland

(B2) A dhow Asayr 2 was captured by pirates off the northeast coast of Somalia on Thursday (23 March), according to information from EU Anti-Piracy HQ Northwood (EUNAVFOR Atalanta). The ship had about twenty crew members, and a Somali guard. They were taken hostage. Thirteen of them were freed by pirates, according to maritime sources, in Puntland. The pirates kept only seven people on board before heading back to sea.

Release a few days later

Eventually the dhow was released on Sunday (March 26) after the pirates stole a skiff, food and diesel. This is the second attack in a few weeks, after the capture of the tanker Aris 13 released after four days (read: The Aris 13 ship released). And that looks more like robbery than an actual act of piracy. But vigilance is still required. Because traditionally, the dhows are highly prized by Somali pirates not as a currency of exchange, to obtain a ransom, but as a means of action that can be used as a mother ship.

The Operation HQ in Northwood thus calls on all ships, in accordance with "BMP4" good practice, to remain " vigilant " in the Indian Ocean and " stay within the internationally recommended transit corridor as they cross the Gulf of Aden ».

(NGV)

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