Iranian Vessel Azini Seized by Somali Pirates

Somali pirates have taken control of the Iranian fishing vessel Azini, which was carrying 23 people, according to the Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean. The ship was hijacked on Thursday between the coastal towns of Bandar Bayla and Hafun in northeastern Somalia, a region known for its strategic position along global trade routes.

A maritime security officer with the Puntland Maritime Police Force confirmed the seizure on Sunday. The officer stated that 12 pirates boarded the vessel, which was crewed by 21 Iranians and two Somali security guards. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to address the media. The center noted that the safety of the crew remained unknown as of Saturday.

Security officials warned that the captured ship could serve as a mother ship to support attacks on commercial vessels. The Azini was approaching a commercial shipping lane at the time of the hijacking, increasing the risk to other traffic in the area. The European Union’s naval Operation Atalanta is currently investigating the incident and has urged ships in the region to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

This seizure marks a resurgence in Somali piracy across the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. Since April, pirates have hijacked six commercial vessels, with some attacks occurring far from the Somali coastline. One such incident involved the oil products tanker Sibu 1, which was seized approximately 136 nautical miles east of al-Mukalla, Yemen.

In September, Puntland authorities reported that pirates killed five crew members of the tanker MT Honour 25 before security forces recovered the vessel. The ship had been held since April, and officials detained 16 suspected pirates following the recovery. The renewed activity adds pressure to a shipping region already disrupted by the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and threats from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi-linked shipping through Bab el-Mandeb have complicated routes for moving oil to global markets. These disruptions have lengthened voyages and increased costs for tanker operations. Some oil shipments diverted around Africa have faced journeys up to a month longer, while daily spot charter rates for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz reached $1 million in September.

International naval patrols and improved security measures had previously reduced Somali piracy over the past decade. The latest seizures have renewed concerns about the threat to vessels operating off the country’s long coastline.