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Pirates hijack Indian vessel off coast of Somalia

THE United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which coordinates shipping in the Gulf of Aden area, has received information that an Indian commercial vessel, a dhow, has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia "in the vicinity of Socotra (Island)." It was the second pirate attack in weeks.

The UKMTO said the vessel, the Al Kausar, was en route from Dubai to the port of Bosasso in northern Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, Reuters reported.

The EU naval force which patrols off Somalia's coast as part of an international anti-piracy operation said on Monday afternoon the dhow had been spotted further south, off the Somali port of Hobyo.

"An EU Naval Force maritime patrol aircraft has confirmed the exact location of the dhow and has attempted to establish radio communications but without success," it said in a statement on its website. "Investigations and operations are ongoing."

Galmudug region's minister for ports and sea transport, Burhan Warsame, said the authorities there would not allow the ship with 11 Indian crew on board to dock in Hobyo, which falls under its jurisdiction.

"We assure you pirates cannot bring it here. We have strong Galmudug forces at Hobyo," he told Reuters.

Somali pirates hijacked an oil tanker last month, the first such seizure of a vessel since 2012, but released it after a clash with the marine force in Puntland.

Experts said ship owners were becoming lax after a long period of calm, and that some were using a route known as the Socotra Gap, between Somalia and Socotra Island, regardless of the piracy risks, to save time and cost.

Muse Osman Yusuf, district commissioner in the Puntland port of Eyl, said on Monday authorities were ready to confront whoever had seized the Indian dhow.

"We shall not allow it. Puntland maritime police forces have a base here and we shall fight the pirates in case they come," he told Reuters.