On 13 March 2017 Somali pirates hijacked the MT ARIS 13 as it was preparing to cut through the Socotra Gap between the tip of Somalia and the island of Socotra. This incident marks the first hijacking of a large merchant vessel since the height of Somali piracy in 2012 and reinforces the need for vessels to follow Best Management Practices (BMP) within the High-Risk Area.

This report from Oceans Beyond Piracy:

On 13 March 2017 Somali pirates hijacked the MT ARIS 13, a tanker vessel en route to Mogadishu from Djibouti. The ship was seized approximately 18 km off the northern tip of Somalia.

• The MT ARIS 13 was not registered with the Maritime Security Center for the Horn of Africa, an organization that registers and tracks commercial traffic in the region.
• The MT ARIS 13 was preparing to cut through the Socotra Gap between the tip of Somalia and the island of Socotra. This route is frequently used as a cost- and time-saving measure for vessels travelling down the east coast of Africa despite the threat of piracy.
• The ship had a low freeboard of only three meters.
• It was moving at a slow speed of five knots.

These factors made the vessel an easier target for pirates, who typically board ships with ladders from fast-moving skiffs. This attack reinforces the need for vessels to follow shipping industry Best Management Practices (BMP) within the BMP specified High-Risk Area.

On March 16 the crew was released from Somali pirate hands due to the efforts of the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF).  The entire crew is reported unharmed.  Under the care of the PMPF, the MT ARIS 13 is now proceeding to the Somali port city of Bosasso.

This incident marks the first hijacking of a large merchant vessel since the height of Somali piracy in 2012.

The Puntland Maritime Police Force was formed in 2010 and was deployed against pirates for the first time in 2012. The PMPF has had several successes, including the release of the MV Iceberg 1, the dramatic cliff top rescue of the fishing vessel the al- Amal, and the recent operation against ISIL militants in the town of Qandala.

Read the full reports from Oceans Beyond Piracy Here:

Is Piracy on the way out? – a report by http://www.ship-technology.com