The Stolt Sagaland was attacked by armed men on a small boat; no injuries among the crew. Alert level rises in the Gulf of Aden
Mogadishu – A new pirate attack off the coast of Somalia has reignited fears of a resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean. The chemical tanker Stolt Sagaland (44,000 dwt), managed by Stolt Tankers and flying the Cayman Islands flag, was targeted by a small boat with four armed men, who fired automatic weapon shots in an attempt to board.
The incident occurred on November 3, approximately 330 nautical miles southeast of Mogadishu, while the ship was traveling from Saudi Arabia to Africa. According to reports, the Sagaland increased speed and performed evasive maneuvers, while the private armed security team on board returned fire, forcing the attackers to retreat. No crew members were injured and the ship continued its voyage.
The episode was confirmed by Stolt, the UKMTO and the European mission EUNAVFOR Atalanta, which in recent hours have reported at least three other suspicious approach attempts in the same area. Among the ships involved were also a Seychelles fishing vessel and the Norwegian bulk carrier Spar Apus.
Analysts believe the pirates are operating from a mother ship, probably a dhow hijacked last week. Maritime authorities have issued an alert for transiting ships, urging them to maintain maximum vigilance.
The attack is the most serious since May 2024 and marks a worrying return of Somali pirate activity, which had remained largely dormant for years but has been reignited after the actions of the Houthis in Yemen, which have destabilized maritime security in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
