Somali pirate groups have resumed a pattern of seizing dhows and converting them into motherships for offshore attacks in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.
One active group operating from Puntland seized the Emirati dhow Fahad-4 in late April. The vessel was reportedly carrying a cargo of lemons. The pirates used it as a mothership to extend their operational range and search for merchant shipping targets.
Security reports link Fahad-4 to an approach against the Malta-flagged crude oil tanker Minerva Pisces on 28 April. During the incident, a pirate skiff closed to around 400 meters after a mothership maneuvered across the tanker’s bow at close range. The tanker increased speed, carried out evasive maneuvers, and armed security personnel on board displayed weapons, after which the skiff withdrew.
Following several days of activity and repeated security alerts in the region, the group abandoned Fahad-4 on 4 May, reportedly due to low supplies and an inability to successfully seize a merchant vessel.
Despite this, hijackings continue in the region. Maritime authorities report that at least three vessels remain under pirate control off the coast of Somalia. These include the product tanker MV Honour 25, seized in April with a crew of 17, including 10 Pakistani nationals and seven seafarers from Indonesia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. Reports indicate the pirates have attempted to open negotiations with national authorities but are insisting on dealing directly with government representatives.
The general cargo ship MV Sward, also seized in April, remains under pirate control. Details on crew conditions have not been officially confirmed in recent updates.
On 2 May, pirates seized the tanker MV Eureka while it was anchored off Qana Port in Yemen’s Shabwa region. The vessel has a crew of 15 and is reportedly being moved toward the Somali coast under pirate control. Monitoring agencies continue to track its position, but no direct communication with the crew has been confirmed.
In another case, a dhow bound for Kismayo was reportedly hijacked on 9 May off southern Somalia. Operation Atalanta has deployed assets to locate the vessel and assess crew status.
Over recent weeks, several merchant vessels have reported suspicious approaches in the Gulf of Aden. In multiple cases, crews used onboard armed security teams to deter boarding attempts. In at least one incident, security personnel fired warning shots, after which skiffs disengaged. No crew injuries were reported.
The Maritime Security Centre – Indian Ocean (MSCIO) and Operation Atalanta warn that pirate groups are now operating within 150 nautical miles of the Somali coast, particularly between Mogadishu and Hafun. They continue to advise vessels to avoid the area where possible and maintain heightened security measures during transit.
Analysts note that pirates increasingly rely on seized dhows to blend into fishing traffic, allowing them to approach commercial vessels with reduced detection risk. Combined with coordinated small-group operations, this tactic has contributed to a renewed wave of incidents in recent weeks.
