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Maritime authorities have warned of an increased piracy threat off the Somali coast after a second cargo vessel was hijacked within days, further disrupting global commercial shipping and raising security concerns across key maritime routes.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that unauthorized persons took control of a cargo vessel about 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad, Somalia, and redirected it into territorial waters.
UKMTO said the latest incident was reported on Sunday at 8 p.m. UTC by a third party, marking the second hijacking this week.
The advisory followed an earlier incident in which a tanker was seized about 45 nautical miles northeast of Mareeyo, Somalia. UKMTO said the vessel was boarded by unauthorized persons and maneuvered into Somali territorial waters.
“These incidents highlight an increased threat of pirate activity,” UKMTO said, advising vessels to transit with caution.
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) raised the piracy threat level for the Somali Coast and Somali Basin to “substantial,” warning of ongoing risks to vessels in the region.
JMIC said an oil-products tanker is being held by pirates on Somalia’s northeastern coast, with no injuries reported.
It also reported that a Pirate Action Group (PAG) is active in the Somali Basin, urging vessels to maintain heightened vigilance and follow the Best Management Practices for Maritime Security (BMP-MS) guidance.
Recent piracy-related incidents include the hijacking of a Somali-flagged fishing vessel near Xaafuun on April 23, the armed boarding of an oil-products tanker in the same area the same day, and an attempted boarding about 83 nautical miles off Eyl on April 24.
UKMTO said vessels should report any suspicious activity as authorities continue to investigate the incidents.
“Due to the increased threat of possible PAG activity, vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity,” the agency said.
JMIC added that weather conditions in the Somali Coast and Somali Basin are conducive to small boat operations, increasing the risk of pirate activity.
Authorities said the piracy threat comes amid broader maritime security concerns across the region.
JMIC said the overall maritime risk level in the Middle East maritime region remains “critical,” with the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz also assessed at a “critical” threat level due to navigation interference, blockade enforcement, mine reports, and residual kinetic risks.
In the Strait of Hormuz, traffic north of the Traffic Separation Scheme remains reduced, with most vessels routing through Omani territorial waters.
No verified attacks on commercial vessels have been reported there in the last 72 hours, although risks remain elevated.
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