Pirates holding a Chinese-owned fishing vessel off Somalia’s northeast coast have increased their ransom demand to $10 million, a sign of their bargaining power in the troubled waters.
The vessel, the Liaoning Daping 578, is believed to have a crew of 18, according to the European Union’s anti-piracy naval force, Eunavfor Atalanta.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Eunavfor Atalanta confirmed that the ship was still in the hands of pirates, saying the abducted crew were safe on board.
“In relation to the Chinese fishing vessel involved in a case of ‘armed robbery at sea’ off the northeast coast of Puntland, Somalia, Operation Atalanta continues surveillance of the event. The Chinese fishing vessel remains under the control of the alleged pirates and in Somali territorial waters,” read the statement.
The EU anti-piracy team said the Atalanta flagship has been monitoring the fishing ship and gathering valuable information, including conditions of the crew on board, as well as on the suspected pirates.
Eunavfor Atalanta is also in contact and coordination with the Chinese Navy as well as the relevant Somali and Chinese authorities.
The ship was seized in late November, signalling a resurgence in piracy after four years of relative stability in the region.
Notable recent incidents include the three-month captivity of the M/V Ruen, which ended with a rescue operation by the Indian Navy, and the M/V Abdullah, which was released following a reported $4 million ransom payment.
About 22 incidents have been reported since November 2023, with experts warning that ransom payments could trigger further attacks on commercial vessels in the region.
These incidents have coincided with the escalation of the war in Gaza, which has also roped in the Yemeni Houthi rebels, who have been attacking ships owned or operated by Israel or their close allies.
These attacks in the Red Sea, and now piracy in the Indian Ocean, remain a major concern for the maritime sector.
The Maritime Organisation for Eastern, Southern, and Northern Africa (Moesna) says that since November 2023, 133 incidents, including hijackings and vessel attacks, have been reported, significantly driving up shipping costs and insurance premiums.
Moesna, formerly known as the Intergovernmental Standing Committee on Shipping (Iscos), an organisation that coordinates the shipping and maritime safety issues in the region, said there must be enhanced collaboration among regional states.
“The maritime industry continues to face evolving challenges that demand coordinated action…through a collective regional approach to safeguarding international trade routes and ensuring the safe and efficient movement of goods,” said Moesna Secretary General Daniel Kiange.
Off the coast of Somalia, pirates typically commandeer smaller vessels like dhows and fishing boats to serve as launching platforms for attacks on larger ships, extending up to 600 nautical miles from the Somali coast.
The incidents come after the Indian Ocean was removed from the “high risk area” designation in January 2023. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said at the time it was lifting the labelling “due to the improved piracy situation in the region.”
Somali pirates wreaked havoc in the waters off the Horn of Africa country’s longest coastline between 2008 and 2018.
They had been dormant until late last year, when pirate activity began to pick up again.
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