EU’s Operation ATALANTA Responds to Hijacking of Chinese Fishing Vessel Off Puntland Coast

The European Union’s Operation ATALANTA is currently monitoring a Chinese fishing vessel that has reportedly been hijacked off the northeastern coast of Puntland, Somalia. The vessel is still within Somali territorial waters and is confirmed to be under the control of armed pirates armed with AK-47s and machine guns, although the 18 crew members are said to be unharmed.

EUNAVFOR ATALANTA officials have classified the incident as an armed robbery at sea. The EU naval force is in active communication with Somali and Chinese authorities, as well as the EU Delegation to Somalia, to keep track of the situation.

This incident is part of a broader resurgence of Somali piracy that began in November 2023, coinciding with Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. This resurgence has seen multiple hijackings of dhows and fishing vessels, along with two significant commercial ship seizures: the MV Ruen, which was captured in mid-December 2023 and held for three months before being rescued by the Indian Navy, and the MV Abdullah, hijacked in March and released a month later, reportedly after a large ransom was paid.

Intelligence reports from late October indicated that a group of 13 heavily armed pirates, equipped with AK-47s and RPGs, had departed from the Ceel Huur Area near Hobyo Port in Somalia. Just a day prior, the Chinese bulk carrier Huan Hang 99 reported a suspicious approach by five skiffs near Aden, Yemen.

This situation marks the end of a relatively calm period in the region, which is usually maintained by monsoon conditions that deter piracy. According to EUNAVFOR, the last hijacking in the area occurred in May with the seizure of the F/V KHALIIJI.

Maritime security experts note that Somali pirates often hijack dhows and fishing vessels to use as mother ships, allowing them to launch attacks in the Indian Ocean up to 600 nautical miles from Somalia’s eastern coast.

In response to these threats, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA strongly encourages vulnerable vessels to register with the MSCHOA’s Voluntary Registration Scheme for better monitoring and protection. As maritime security concerns grow, the region continues to be classified as a high-risk area for commercial shipping.