Suspected Somali pirates pirated a Yemeni fishing boat off the coast of Somalia on Sunday, marking the 3rd such attack in current weeks, the European Union validated Monday. The Yemeni-flagged vessel was taken near the northern seaside town of Eyl, Somalia. 7 armed hijackers stay on board together with a team of 8 Somali nationals.
” The event is under examination and has actually been categorized as a hijacking,” the EU antipiracy force stated in a declaration. The force specified that it is carefully keeping track of the scenario and collaborating with the Integrated Maritime Forces marine collaboration group in addition to the Yemeni coast guard.
This attack follows the February 17 hijacking of another Yemeni ship, the Saytuun-2, which was launched on February 24. Previously that month, on February 9, pirates took another Yemeni fishing vessel however deserted it 4 days later on after taking individual valuables and 2 skiffs.
Somali piracy peaked in 2011, when 237 attacks were tape-recorded, costing the international economy an approximated $7 billion, consisting of $160 million in ransom payments, according to the Oceans Beyond Piracy keeping track of group. In addition, the EU antipiracy force reports that more than 2,500 people have actually been hijacked by Somali pirates because 2009.
A mix of worldwide marine patrols and enhanced governance in Somalia had actually mostly suppressed the danger, however attacks have actually intensified over the previous year.