Wednesday April 16, 2025

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Mogadishu (HOL) — A merchant vessel operating in the Gulf of Aden was pursued for nearly two hours by multiple small boats carrying armed individuals on Tuesday, prompting a maritime security alert and renewed concern over persistent threats in the region.

According to an official notice issued by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident occurred around 1700 UTC on April 15, approximately 100 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen. The master of the bulk carrier reported being followed by the small craft, with shots fired during the chase. No injuries or damages were reported, and all crew were confirmed safe. The small boats eventually disengaged after the vessel altered course toward the Yemeni coastline.

The ship’s master altered course toward the Yemeni coastline to evade the small craft, which eventually withdrew. The vessel continued safely on its route and is proceeding to its next port of call, according to UKMTO’s incident report.

Security experts at Neptune P2P Group noted that while the incident bears some hallmarks of a piracy attempt, the tactics—particularly the number of boats involved and the distance from Somali shores—are atypical of recent Somali pirate operations. They suggest alternative explanations could include Yemen’s coast guard or local armed fishermen, both of whom operate in the region and are often equipped for self-protection.

The Houthi rebel group, which had paused maritime attacks following a January ceasefire tied to the Gaza conflict, has recently threatened to resume operations against vessels linked to Israel. However, the group has not issued any statement about Tuesday’s encounter.

The attempted hijacking is among several piracy-related incidents reported in 2025, highlighting persistent maritime threats in the Gulf of Aden. It comes amid heightened concerns over regional security following a resurgence of Somali pirate activity in late 2023.

The International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau, in its quarterly piracy report released last week, warned that Somali pirates continue to pose a threat to international shipping. In response to the resurgence of piracy and regional instability, the European Union had already extended its counter-piracy naval mission, Operation Atalanta, through February 2027, following a decision made by the European Council in December 2024.

UKMTO is urging all commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden to maintain heightened vigilance, establish contact with regional monitoring centers, and report any suspicious activity as investigations continue.