A resurgence of pirate activity could threaten global shipping lanes, particularly oil and gas tankers passing through one of the most important sea routes between Asia and Europe

The Captain reported that the tanker, which was en route from Ras Laffan, Qatar, to Swinoujscie, Poland via the Cape of Good Hope, outran the speedboat,

Maritime security sources announced that pirates attempted to board a liquefied natural gas tanker off the Somali coast, before the ship managed to escape by carrying out quick maneuvers and changing course at sea, in an incident that is the second of its kind within 24 hours, amid fears of a return of piracy activities after years of calm.

(UKMTO :The tanker was "safe"

Sources also reported on Friday that the attack occurred in open waters off Somalia, where the ship's crew spotted two speedboats approaching, prompting them to increase speed and send a distress call to the UK Maritime Safety and Security Centre (UKMTO), which later confirmed that the tanker was "safe" and that the attackers had left the area, according to Reuters. A maritime security source explained that the targeted ship was carrying a shipment of liquefied natural gas bound for an Asian port, adding that "the crew's quick response prevented any damage or injuries."

.A spate of armed attacks on vessels in the region

A recent spate of armed attacks on vessels in the region - including the first involving suspected Somali pirates in a year - has reignited concerns over the security of shipping lanes used to transport critical energy and goods to global markets.

Friday’s incident occurred close to the site of an attack a day earlier targeting the Malta-flagged products tanker Hellas Aphrodite, an official with maritime security firm Diaplous said.

Al Thumama,vessel 

The Marshall Islands-flagged LNG tanker, which maritime security sources identified as Al Thumama, reported an approach by a small craft with three people on board, British maritime risk management group Vanguard and maritime security sources said

The current position of AL THUMAMA is at Persian Gulf reported 5 days ago by AIS. The vessel is en route to the port of Swinoujscie, Poland, sailing at a speed of 14.9 knots and expected to arrive there on Dec 6, 05:00. The vessel AL THUMAMA (IMO 9360843, MMSI 538003018) is a LNG Tanker built in 2008 (17 years old) and currently according to VesselFinder 

Related : Panama-flagged bulker Eternal Bright towed to safety in Çanakkale Strait

Japan’s NYK LNG Shipmanagement not comment 

The Captain reported that the tanker, which was en route from Ras Laffan, Qatar, to Swinoujscie, Poland via the Cape of Good Hope, outran the speedboat, the sources said . The source added that the incident "demonstrates an increase in piracy attempts in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean in recent weeks, following a long period of sharp decline in such operations."

The vessel’s operator, Japan’s NYK LNG Shipmanagement, could not immediately be reached for comment. The vessel’s operator, Japan’s NYK LNG Shipmanagement, could not immediately be reached for comment according to Reuters

The Horn of Africa

The Horn of Africa, particularly off the Somali coast, saw a significant increase in piracy in the first decade of the millennium, before joint international patrols, especially the European Union’s Operation Atalanta, led to a significant decline starting in 2015. Meanwhile, maritime security analysts believe that the escalation of attacks in this sensitive region is raising concerns again, especially given the reduced international military presence in the waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Sea of ​​Somalia over the past two years, due to the redirection of resources towards the Red Sea and the war-affected waterways in Gaza and Yemen.

Threaten global shipping lanes

The UK Navy's Maritime Security Centre in the Horn of Africa said that "a resurgence of pirate activity could threaten global shipping lanes, particularly oil and gas tankers passing through one of the most important sea routes between Asia and Europe."Experts also pointed out that Somali pirates are exploiting the security vacuum, the lack of intensive patrols, and the difficult economic conditions within Somalia, which are driving small groups to revive their activities on the high seas.

Source : Reuters + Others

UK Navy's Maritime Security ,Horn of Africa ,Japan’s NYK LNG Shipmanagement, Marshall Islands ,  pirates  ,AL THUMAMA , coast of Somalia.European Union’s Operation Atalanta