UAE Dhow Pirates Abandon Ship Due to Limited Supplies

A hijacked Emirati dhow has been abandoned in the Arabian Sea after Somali pirates failed to use it to attack other ships.

In late April, an 11-member pirate group seized the Fahad-4, a lemon-laden vessel, approximately 10 nautical miles off the coastal town of Dhinowda in northeastern Somalia. The crew’s current status is unknown, as Somali authorities have not publicly commented on the matter. According to Puntland security officials, the pirates set out from an area near the port of Garacad, around 600km north of Mogadishu.

The hijackers used the Fahad-4 as a mothership to attempt to attack other ships in Somali waters. However, they were forced to abandon the vessel on May 4 due to running low supplies and increased alertness from ships navigating through the area. This incident is part of a recent surge in piracy incidents that have raised concerns about maritime security.

Several vessels seized in recent weeks remain under pirate control, including the Honour 25 tanker and the Sward. Pirates also took control of the Eureka petrol tanker off the coast of Yemen before steering it towards Somali shores. The groups behind these attacks are currently unknown.

In the past, local fishermen and armed groups affiliated with ISIL (ISIS) and al-Qaeda were involved in hijackings. Analysts suggest that a shift in antipiracy patrols to the Red Sea may have created an opportunity for pirates. Additionally, the diversion of naval patrols towards the Strait of Hormuz has likely distracted some nations from containing piracy threats.

The World Bank estimates that the annual impact of piracy off Somalia on the global economy was as high as $18bn during the height of the crisis.

Source: Al Jazeera