A cargo ship has been hijacked near the coast of Somalia after eight armed men boarded the vessel and took control, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.
The UKMTO reported that this incident took place about four nautical miles south of Mareeyo, Somalia, and was logged by the vessel's security officer at 1136 UTC on Monday.
The UKMTO stated that eight unauthorized armed individuals gained access to the unknown cargo ship and assumed control. Investigations are underway, and other ships in the area have been warned to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity.
This hijacking occurred despite the southwest monsoon conditions, which usually limit the operations of Somali pirate groups further out to sea. A recent assessment from the Joint Maritime Information Center indicated that while rougher conditions offshore are making it harder for longer-range skiffs to operate, protected coastal waters continue to offer chances for piracy.
As of Sunday, four merchant vessels are already being held in the wider area, including the product tanker Honour 25 and the general cargo ship Sward, both of which were hijacked off the coast of Somalia in April.
This latest event highlights that the threat of piracy is still active near the Somali coastline, even during the southwest monsoon season.