Yemeni Dhow Attacked Off Puntland Coast by Somalia Pirates
A Yemeni-flagged dhow has reportedly been attacked by suspected pirates off the coast of Eyl in Somalia’s Puntland region, according to the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATALANTA. The incident, which took place on February 9th, is currently under investigation, with EUNAVFOR coordinating with regional maritime security partners.
This event marks a troubling resurgence of Somali piracy that began in November 2023, characterized by a series of dhow hijackings. Maritime security experts indicate that pirates often use hijacked dhows as “mother ships” to conduct attacks far offshore in the Indian Ocean.
Source: EUNAVFOR
In 2024, Operation ATALANTA recorded numerous incidents in the Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden, including four boardings of merchant vessels and two significant hijackings. A notable incident occurred in January 2025 when a Chinese fishing vessel was hijacked off Puntland’s northeastern coast, classified as “armed robbery” since it happened within Somali territorial waters. Officials later reported that the vessel was “liberated.”
Security analysts are particularly worried about the implications of successful ransom payments, as they could encourage more attacks on commercial vessels in the future. EUNAVFOR ATALANTA remains vigilant in the region and strongly advises merchant and vulnerable vessels to register with the MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS) to enhance monitoring and response capabilities.
