The European Union's EUNAVFOR Atalanta naval task force was informed of a suspected piracy-related incident on a Yemeni-flagged dhow off Durdura, in the vicinity of Eyl along the northern coast of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region on Sunday, March 16.
EUNAVFOR Atalanta said the incident is under investigation and has been classified as a hijacking. According to the latest information, up to seven hijackers remain on board the dhow, which has a crew of eight Somali nationals.
EUNAVFOR Atalanta is monitoring the event and coordinating closely with the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and with the Yemeni Coast Guard.
Sunday's incident comes one month after the pirate attack on the Yemeni-flagged dhow Saytuun-2, which was eventually released on February 24.
Atalanta assessment and recommendations are shared through the appropriate channels with the shipping operators and updated on the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO) website.
EUNAVFOR Atalanta strongly recommends merchant and other vulnerable vessels to register in the MSCIO's Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS), to provide the most effective monitoring and response by Atalanta forces and their partners in countering maritime security threats.