MOGADISHU — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a maritime security incident approximately four nautical miles south of Mareeyo, Somalia, where a cargo vessel was boarded by eight armed individuals who have taken control of the ship.
According to the UKMTO report, the ship’s Chief Security Officer confirmed that unauthorised armed persons had boarded the vessel and assumed control. Authorities are currently investigating the incident. All vessels in the vicinity have been advised to transit with caution and to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
The incident off the coast of Mareeyo comes amid renewed concerns about maritime security in Somali waters. Somali pirates holding the oil tanker MT Eureka have demanded a swift transfer of an agreed ransom, while fears of a potential military rescue operation have complicated the situation.
Pirates initially demanded $10 million for the release of the MT Eureka’s crew, which includes eight Egyptians and four Indians [citation:3]. The vessel, a Togo-flagged product tanker carrying approximately 2,800 tonnes of diesel, was boarded by armed attackers on May 2 off the coast of Yemen’s Shabwa province and forced toward Somali waters.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has warned that the humanitarian situation of hostages is deteriorating rapidly due to severe shortages of food and water and daily threats of violence. The IMO has called on member states to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of seafarers held hostage.
Somali pirates have converted a captured merchant vessel into a floating base from which they are launching new attacks, marking a significant escalation in the resurgence of maritime crime [citation:1]. The MV Sward, a cement carrier hijacked on April 26, 2026, is now being used as a “mothership” to launch smaller attack skiffs against vessels in the Indian Ocean.
The UKMTO has raised the piracy threat level along the Somali coast to “substantial” and warned vessels to “transit with caution”. The resurgence of piracy is being attributed to the diversion of international naval assets to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking shipping.
Critical Note
The latest hijacking off the coast of Mareeyo underscores the persistent maritime security challenges facing Somalia, despite years of international counter-piracy efforts. The incident follows a pattern of recent attacks that suggest a resurgence of piracy and armed robbery at sea, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current maritime security arrangements. Naval analysts attribute the resurgence to a shift in international naval resources toward the Red Sea, creating a security vacuum that pirate groups are exploiting with increasing sophistication.
The Somali government, with support from international partners, must urgently strengthen maritime surveillance, intelligence-sharing, and rapid response capabilities to protect vital shipping lanes and the safety of seafarers. The international community, which has invested heavily in counter-piracy operations, must also renew its commitment to maritime security in the region, as the consequences of inaction could be far-reaching for global trade and regional stability.
