NAIROBI, Kenya- Suspected pirates have seized control of a cargo vessel off Somalia’s coast and are steering it toward the shoreline, in what security analysts warn could signal a troubling resurgence of maritime attacks in the region.
According to maritime security firms Vanguard and Ambrey, the St Kitts and Nevis-flagged cargo ship was boarded by armed men near the Somali coastline.
The vessel is now believed to be under pirate control and heading toward Somali waters.
The ship, identified as Sward, had been sailing from Suez in Egypt to Mombasa in Kenya when it was intercepted.
Reports indicate that all crew members were gathered on the bridge at the time of the attack, except two engineers.
Security sources say the vessel carries a crew of 15, comprising two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians. Authorities in Somalia’s Puntland region, including maritime police, have been alerted and are monitoring the situation.
The incident occurred near Garacad, a location that has increasingly been flagged in recent intelligence reports as a hotspot for renewed pirate activity.
This latest hijacking comes just days after another vessel—a fuel tanker—was seized by suspected Somali pirates, raising fresh concerns among global shipping operators.
After years of decline due to international naval patrols and tighter onboard security, piracy off Somalia’s coast has shown signs of re-emerging since late 2023.
Analysts warn that reduced naval presence and shifting global security priorities may be creating gaps that pirate networks are exploiting.
The Horn of Africa remains one of the world’s most strategically important shipping corridors, linking Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
Any sustained rise in piracy could disrupt global trade routes—and heighten risks for vessels bound for East African ports, including Mombasa.
