Bold Response from European Anti-Piracy Units to Assault on German Cargo Vessel by Somali Coast

Nairobi (AX) — The European Union’s counter-piracy mission, Operation Atalanta, is addressing a reported assault on the Liberian-flagged ship Basilisk near the Somali coast. This event underlines the reemergence of piracy in the area, which had been inactive until recently.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a group of individuals from two small vessels unlawfully boarded the Basilisk about 380 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The ship, operated by Germany’s MINSHIP, was traveling from Porto Grande, Cape Verde, to Jebel Ali in the UAE.

Somali pirates caused significant disruptions in the waters of East Africa from 2008 to 2018. While pirate activity had waned, recent events indicate a troubling comeback. This year, the Iranian fishing boat Almeraj 1 and the Bangladeshi bulk carrier Abdullah were seized, with the latter being released after a ransom was paid.

Initially, the UKMTO report positioned the incident 420 nautical miles southeast of Merca, Somalia. Additional updates from the Atalanta forces are anticipated as the situation develops.