Ship hijacked off Somali coast, maritime organisation says

There are reports that a commercial ship has been hijacked off the coast of Somalia – a further sign of worsening insecurity in the area.

Britain’s Maritime Trade Operation reported that the crew was no longer in control of the vessel, which was heading towards the Somali coast and was almost 700 nautical miles east of Bosaso.

It is not yet clear if this was an attack by Somali pirates or if it was carried out by Houthi rebels from Yemen.

The Houthi rebels have been attacking vessels in Red Sea shipping lanes in a campaign they say aims to support the Palestinians.

Piracy off Somalia’s coast peaked towards the end of the first decade of the century, but has since been mostly stopped following the intervention of an international naval force.
By Will Ross