Somali pirates who hijacked the Bangladeshi-flagged Abdullah bulk carrier last week have made their first contact with the vessel’s owner, SR Shipping, with maritime security personnel warning of the likelihood of further attacks off the Horn of Africa. No ransom demands have been made yet for the 23 crew abducted on March 12.
bulk carrier last week have made their first contact with the vessel’s owner, SR Shipping, with maritime security personnel warning of the likelihood of further attacks off the Horn of Africa. No ransom demands have been made yet for the 23 crew abducted on March 12.A spokesperson for the shipowner told a press conference yesterday: “General talks about the ship and the crew members took place. They informed us that all the crew members were safe and sound. They will not be tortured.”
With reports earlier this week that international navies were willing to try and free the ship and its crew, following a successful similar operation on another captured ship, pirates have let it be known that they have fortified the Abdullah and coastal positions near where it is moored.
Sources linked to the pirates told Kaab TV, a Somalian news channel, that anti-aircraft weaponry has been installed on the ship, as well at coastal positions nearby.
Last weekend, the Indian Navy rescued 17 crewmembers on another cargo ship that was seized in December last year, the Malta-flagged Ruen. The 35 arrested pirates are set to face trial in India.
Two Somali gang members told Reuters this week they were taking advantage of the distraction provided by Houthi strikes several hundred nautical miles to the north to get back into piracy after lying dormant for nearly a decade with multiple maritime security firms reporting more dhows have set out to sea to target more hijacking possibilities.
A total of 13% of world seaborne trade is now under attack from the Houthis in Yemen and Somali pirates, according to new data published from shipowner organisation BIMCO.
