The security situation along the Somali coast has once again raised concerns within the global shipping industry. On November 3, a product tanker operated by Stolt Tankers was fired upon approximately 330 nautical miles southeast of Mogadishu, and it reported suspicious individuals attempting to board. Several international security agencies have warned that Somali pirate forces may be becoming active again.
It is reported that the vessel involved is the “Stolt Sagaland”, with a deadweight tonnage of 44,000 tons, flying the flag of the Cayman Islands. It was harassed while en route from Saudi Arabia to Africa. The crew reported that a small boat carrying four people approached rapidly, suspected of attempting to board. The tanker immediately accelerated and took evasive action, after which the other party opened fire, suspectedly using AK-47 type weapons. The security personnel on board returned fire, and the small boat eventually withdrew.
▲ Recent one-week track of the “Stolt Sagaland”, source: ShipVision
Stolt Tankers subsequently confirmed that no crew members were injured and the vessel continued its voyage. Currently, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the EU Naval Force EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta have both launched investigations.
It is noteworthy that this attack is not an isolated incident. The UK Maritime Trade Operations just issued a notice last week, reporting continuous suspicious vessel activity near the Somali coast and advising passing merchant ships to heighten vigilance. During the same period, two traditional sailing vessels were approached by unidentified boats in nearby waters; one was suspected of being hijacked and potentially used as a “mother ship” to support other attacks. It is reported that the Iranian-flagged sailing vessel had a total of 19 crew members.
According to reports from the EU Naval Force, within just the period from November 2 to 3, three suspicious incidents occurred in the same area off the coast of Mogadishu: a Seychelles-flagged fishing vessel, a Norwegian bulk carrier “Spar Apus”, and another merchant ship successively reported being approached by high-speed boats. All managed to escape after taking defensive measures such as accelerating or firing warning shots.
Analysts point out that the patterns of these harassments are highly similar to previous Somali pirate activities. Multiple intelligence sources indicate that local armed groups may still be using “mother ships” to conduct long-distance operations on the high seas. Although international joint escort and counter-piracy efforts have significantly reduced Somali pirate attacks in recent years, the security situation in the waters around Somalia has tightened again since the Yemeni Houthi forces frequently launched attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea starting in 2023.
It is reported that this is the first time a large merchant ship has reported being fired upon in Somali waters since May 2024. Industry insiders are concerned that if similar incidents continue to increase, it could pose new security risks to routes passing through the Gulf of Aden and potentially raise insurance premiums and security costs for this route.
The international shipping industry is currently closely monitoring the situation and calling on countries to strengthen patrols and intelligence sharing along the Somali coast to prevent regional pirate forces from making a comeback.
