Maritime agencies warn of rising piracy threat in Somali waters

Maritime security agencies are cautioning that risks to shipping off Somalia’s coastline are rising after a cargo vessel was recently taken over in what is believed to be a piracy-related incident.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has elevated the regional threat level to “substantial,” reporting that unidentified individuals boarded the ship and diverted it toward Somali territorial waters on Sunday. “Due to the increased threat of possible PAG activity, vessels are advised to transit with caution,” UKMTO said.

Recent days have seen multiple suspected piracy attempts, with at least four vessels, including a fishing boat and an oil tanker, reportedly targeted within a week, BBC reported.

This week, pirates seized an oil tanker named Honour 25 near the Somali coastline, taking control of the vessel with 17 crew members on board. According to security sources, six armed attackers boarded the ship about 30 nautical miles offshore late on Wednesday. The tanker was transporting 18,500 barrels of oil and had previously traveled from Berbera toward the United Arab Emirates before changing course back toward Mogadishu.

The captured ship is now anchored near the Somali shore between Xaafun and Bander Beyla, and additional armed individuals have reportedly joined the hijackers. The crew consists of nationals from several countries, including Pakistan, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar. According to the BBC, officials suspect the attackers launched their operation from a remote coastal area, though details of how they overtook the vessel remain unclear.

Though in recent years the hijacking of ships across Somali waters has diminished significantly, piracy once developed into a highly organized system of maritime crime, especially between the mid-2000s and early 2010s. These operations were typically run from coastal regions such as Puntland, launching attacks in small, fast skiffs powered by outboard engines.

Their rise was deeply tied to Somalia’s internal collapse after 1991. With no effective central government or navy, Somali waters became largely unpoliced, allowing both illegal foreign fishing and criminal activity to flourish. Many early pirate groups claimed they were defending local fishing grounds from foreign exploitation and toxic waste dumping, but this justification gradually shifted into an organized enterprise. Poverty, lack of employment, and political instability made piracy attractive to young men, especially as ransom payments proved highly lucrative.

However, piracy declined after international maritime forces, including multinational patrols in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, made it far riskier for pirates to operate. Moreover, the shipping industry adopted defensive measures such as armed guards, high-speed transit corridors, and onboard security protocols. However, the underlying causes of piracy were never fully resolved, which is why the potential for its return has remained high. Reduced naval presence, shifting global attention, especially around the Red Sea and Indian Ocean corridors, and instability in nearby regions have created opportunities for pirates to regroup.

However, despite the hijackings reported in recent weeks, the risk of a full-scale resurgence remains uncertain. On one hand, piracy is less attractive today due to stronger maritime security and quicker military responses, which increase the danger for attackers. On the other hand, persistent issues - poverty, weak governance, illegal fishing, and internal security challenges in many of Somalia’s coastal regions - still exist. The Somalia’s federal government and the Puntland authorities have yet to comment on the latest hijacking reports.