Bosaso – A merchant vessel hijacked last week in the waters of the Gulf of Aden has been taken to the coast of Somalia, where it is reportedly held by Somali pirates, according to two sources in the Puntland region who spoke to Reuters. The vessel, named MT Asana and sailing under the Tanzanian flag, is a tanker designed to carry oil and chemicals.
One of the sources speaking to Reuters who identified himself as a former pirate stated that there are 20 crew members on board, including eight German nationals and 10 Filipinos, with the remaining two believed to be from other countries.
Another resident of the Alula district in the Bari region reported seeing armed pirates transporting food and other supplies to the ship, indicating that the vessel is being held near the Puntland coast.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) had previously confirmed that the vessel was boarded by unidentified armed men while transiting the Gulf of Aden and subsequently diverted toward Somali waters; the incident was classified as a hijacking.
This incident comes amidst a resurgence of Somali piracy targeting commercial vessels, following years of significantly reduced activity. Between 2008 and 2018, Somali pirates were notorious for hijacking international vessels and demanding multi-million dollar ransoms; however, joint operations involving Somalia and international naval forces significantly reduced these attacks.
Nevertheless, since late 2023, there has been a resurgence of attacks in Somali waters and the Gulf of Aden. Maritime security experts attribute this trend to a reduction in ship security measures, regional security conditions, and increased activity by armed groups exploiting this vital Horn of Africa waterway.
So far, there has been no statement from the Somali government or the Puntland administration regarding the hijacking of the MT Asana, and the measures being planned to secure the release of the vessel and its crew remain unclear.
