A UAE-flagged oil tanker is said to have been hijacked on Monday by suspected Somali pirates who used small skiffs in the Gulf of Aden according to the EU naval presence in the area.
The Kuwaiti-owned MV Zirku was seized 250 nautical miles south east of Salalah, Oman. The vessel is said to have 29 crew members on board and it may now either be taken back to the Somali coastline or used as a ‘mothership’ from which pirates can initiate further attacks.
Oil tankers are not being specifically targeted by Somali pirates. They continue to target all vessel types. However, attacks against oil tankers are likely to be more aggressive because the potential ransoms are higher than for other vessel types.
Pirate aggression and the use of violent intimidating tactics appear to be on the rise. Vessel operators are advised to prepare for sustained and hazardous hijacking attempts in the region over the coming months.
According to the latest figures from the International Maritime Bureau, nearly 600 hostages are currently being held on 28 vessels off the coastline of Somalia.
