An unnamed commercial cargo ship has been boarded and seized by eight armed men off the coast of Somalia, according to international maritime monitoring organisations.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and the EU Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean (MSCIO) issued alerts after the incident was reported near the Horn of Africa.
UKMTO advised vessels operating in the area to “transit with caution and report any suspicious activity”.
MSCIO said the ship’s crew was reported to be safe at the time of the alert. No further details about the vessel, its cargo or the identities of those responsible have been released.
Renewed piracy activity
The incident comes amid a resurgence in piracy off the Somali coast after years of relative decline.
Piracy in the region peaked around 2011, when Somali pirates carried out numerous attacks on commercial shipping. International naval patrols and improved security measures subsequently helped bring the number of successful attacks down sharply.
But activity has increased again in 2026. Three tankers carrying fertiliser and oil were seized in April and May, while a chemical tanker was commandeered off the coast of Yemen in July. The vessels are reportedly being held off the Somali coast.
The latest seizure adds to growing concerns for international shipping operating around the Horn of Africa and the wider Middle East.
Wider risks for shipping
Commercial vessels are already facing significant disruption in the region, with shipping companies seeking to avoid risks linked to the Strait of Hormuz and attacks by Houthi forces in the Red Sea.
The renewed pirate activity off Somalia could further complicate efforts by shipping companies to maintain safe and reliable routes between Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
Authorities have not said whether the latest incident is connected to the other recent pirate seizures.
