The hijacking of a fuel tanker off Somalia’s northeastern coast set off concern among local authorities and Puntland security forces after a British maritime body reported that unauthorized people took control of the vessel. The incident occurred on Wednesday in waters between the coastal towns of Hafun and Bandarbeyla, according to a Puntland official and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
The tanker, which had departed from the port of Berbera, was heading for Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital, when it was intercepted, the Puntland Maritime Police Force colonel told The Associated Press. He said the hijacking involved six armed men from the Bandarbeyla district.
In a statement, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that it was aware of a hijacking incident off the Somali coast. It said unauthorized people took control of the tanker and were maneuvering it “south within Somali territorial waters.”
The Puntland official said the ship is owned by Pakistani interests and chartered by local businessmen, and that it was carrying a large shipment of fuel. The official said it was not possible to verify how many people were on board.
Community leaders and local authorities pressed Puntland security forces to secure the release of the vessel and its crew, the Associated Press reported. At the time of the report, there was no immediate indication of ransom demands.
Piracy off Somalia’s coast was once among the most dangerous in the world, and international naval patrols and improvements in maritime security have helped drive a significant decline over the past decade. Still, the episode highlighted that sporadic incidents continue to raise concerns about a possible resurgence as shipping navigates the region’s coastal waters.