Piracy threat level upgraded to "substantial" as second ship hijacked off Somalia: UKMTO

Mogadishu [Somalia], April 27 (ANI): Maritime authorities have issued an urgent warning regarding an escalating piracy crisis following the hijacking of a second cargo vessel off the coast of Somalia.

The latest seizure marks a significant escalation in disruptions to global commercial shipping routes in the region.

Confirming the security breach, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated on Sunday that "unauthorised persons have taken control of a cargo vessel which has been redirected to within territorial waters."

The organisation noted that the incident took place just six nautical miles from the coast of Garacad, Somalia.

This development follows a separate maritime assault on Tuesday, where a tanker was seized within Somali waters.

According to the UKMTO, that vessel was boarded by "unauthorised persons" approximately 45 nautical miles north-east of Mareeyo before being manoeuvred into the nation's territorial waters.

In light of these back-to-back hijackings, the UKMTO has officially reported an "increased threat" of pirate activity in the area, advising all merchant vessels to "transit with caution."

The deteriorating security situation has prompted the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) to upgrade its piracy threat level to "substantial" across the Somali Coast and Somali Basin.

The agency has urged crews to "maintain heightened vigilance" as the crisis unfolds.

Providing further details on the current status of the hijacked fleet, the JMIC confirmed on Sunday that "an oil-products tanker is reported to be held by pirates on the north-eastern Somali coast."

While the agency noted that "no injuries have been reported," it warned that a "Pirate Action Group is reported to be active in the Somali Basin," indicating a persistent risk to international maritime trade. (ANI)

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