Recent activity in the Indian Ocean is sparking concerns of a resurgence in Somali piracy.
Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), which operates under the auspices of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), believes at least two pirate action groups, potentially operating from motherships, are now active in the Indian Ocean. This follows a series of fishing dhow hijackings off the Somali coast since November.
“The most likely scenario is that the pirates are operating from Mother Boats, searching for targets in areas where the sea conditions allow for boarding. These remote locations are also less likely to be patrolled by international forces. The pirates approach vessels to assess whether there is an armed security team on board,” EU NAVFOR said in a bulletin issued Tuesday.
The use of motherships to reach further offshore was a common tactic used by Somali pirates more than a decade ago. In fact, recent incidents have all the hallmarks of pirate activity.
