Friday December 15, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - A Spanish navy frigate, part of the European Union's Operation ATALANTA, is advancing towards a commercial vessel potentially hijacked by pirates, as reported by the EU's Somali counter-piracy force on Friday. The Maltese-flagged MV Ruen, managed by Bulgaria's Navigation Maritime Bulgare, is believed to be out of crew control and heading towards Somali waters.
UK's Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) raised the initial alarm, noting the crew's loss of control over the 607-foot bulk vessel, though confirming their safety. The MV Ruen, journeying from Gwangyang, South Korea, to Gemlik, Turkey, appears to have been intercepted.
The responding Spanish ship, Victoria, a 455-foot frigate armed with advanced weaponry, is rapidly approaching the area to assess and react to the situation.
If verified as a pirate hijacking, this incident would be the first major act of piracy since 2019, highlighting the persistent threat despite significant counter-piracy operations. Operation ATALANTA, the EU's inaugural naval mission, has been instrumental in reducing piracy and protecting maritime routes and humanitarian missions, leading to the apprehension of 171 pirates.
Current tracking data places the MV Ruen en route to Somalia, underscoring the enduring challenges in securing maritime safety in this region. The southern Red Sea is witnessing a resurgence of violence reminiscent of the Somali piracy crisis a decade ago. The US is reportedly preparing to announce the creation of a special multinational Red Sea task force to support merchant shipping in this volatile region.
A Hapag-Lloyd containership, Al Jasrah, was hit by an aerial projectile while navigating the Bab Al Mandab Strait earlier on Friday. The 14,500 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) vessel suffered damage on its port side, leading to a container falling overboard and a deck fire. Hapag-Lloyd officials confirmed the attack, noting no crew injuries.
This incident followed a close encounter of the 11,500 TEU MSC Alanya near Yemeni waters, where evasive maneuvers were necessary. Additionally, the Maersk Gibraltar narrowly escaped a missile attack while transiting near Yemen. These attacks, part of a series by the Iranian-backed Houthis, have intensified over the past month, targeting various merchant ships.
The Houthis have linked their maritime campaign to the Israeli air-and-ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, the Houthi military spokesman, declared a commitment to hinder ships heading to Israeli ports in the Red Sea until necessary food and medicine reach Gaza.
In a statement, Saree claimed responsibility for attacks on the MSC Palatium III and the Alanya, although Al Jasrah was the actual target. Two missiles were fired during the assault; one missed, while the other hit the Palatium. These incidents are heightening concerns over regional maritime security, affecting critical routes for Europe and Asia.
Global shipping faces increasing threats as the Israel-Hamas conflict risks expanding. In a notable November incident, Houthis seized an Israel-linked vehicle transport ship in the Red Sea off Yemen, still held near Hodeida. An Israeli billionaire's container ship also suffered a suspected Iranian drone attack in the Indian Ocean.