The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) has warned of a potential resurgence in piracy off the coast of Somalia after an Iranian dhow was hijacked and is believed to be used as a mothership for future attacks.
According to MSCIO, the vessel – identified as Al Waseemi 786 – was seized approximately 400 nautical miles east of Mogadishu. The organization assesses it is “highly likely” that the dhow is now being used by a pirate action group to support operations far from the Somali coastline.
In response, MSCIO issued a strong advisory, urging all vessels to avoid transiting within a 200-nautical-mile radius of the reported location due to the elevated risk.
Monitoring sources note that Somali pirate groups are increasingly using hijacked dhows as motherships, allowing them to blend in with regular maritime traffic and extend their operational reach. These groups have been observed operating up to 600 nautical miles offshore, deploying skiffs once a suitable target is identified.
Since November 2023, there have been 57 reported piracy-related incidents in the region, showing that pirate networks remain active and capable.
The most recent successful boarding of a merchant vessel dates back to November 2025, when the tanker Hellas Aphrodite was seized before being freed by European naval forces.
The timing of the incident aligns with a recurring seasonal pattern, where piracy activity increases in late winter and early spring, slows down mid-year, and rises again toward the end of the year. A similar surge was recorded between November 2023 and May 2024.
MSCIO’s latest warning suggests that the risk of piracy in the western Indian Ocean remains real and potentially escalating.
