Pirates have hijacked Al Kausar, an Indian dhow, off the coast of Somalia in the vicinity of Socotra island, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which coordinates shipping in the Gulf of Aden area.
Al Kausar was en route from Dubai to the port of Bosasso in northern Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. EUNAVFOR said on Monday afternoon that the dhow had been spotted further south, off the Somali port of Hobyo. All 11 crew are understood to be Indian.
Muse Osman Yusuf, district commissioner in the Puntland port of Eyl, said on Monday that local authorities were ready to confront whoever had seized the Indian dhow. “We shall not allow it. Puntland maritime police forces have a base here and we shall fight the pirates in case they come,” he told Reuters.
In a separate incident, UKMTO said that early on Monday six skiffs had approached a vessel in the southern Red Sea and that ladders and hooks were sighted. Armed guards on board the vessel took up positions and the skiffs departed, leaving the vessel unharmed, UKMTO said.