“Spanish navy responds to suspected Somali piracy, pursuing hijacked vessel.”
A Spanish navy ship races towards a Maltese-flagged commercial vessel suspected of piracy off Somalia, reported EUNAVFOR, the EU’s anti-piracy force. This potential hijacking, if verified, marks the first such incident involving Somali pirates since 2017, following international naval crackdowns in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
EUNAVFOR’s joint operations center received an alert about the “alleged pirate-hijacked vessel” Ruen, positioned around 500 nautical miles east of Socotra Island, Somalia. A source in Somalia’s Puntland region claimed knowledge of pirates seizing a vessel, planning to bring it ashore.
The Spanish warship Victoria has been dispatched to gather information and assess the situation. EUNAVFOR continues to monitor piracy events in the northwest Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, collaborating with international naval forces, including the Combined Maritime Force.
Security firm Ambrey suggested that pirates had indeed hijacked the Ruen. UKMTO, Britain’s maritime body, received a report indicating loss of control over the vessel, heading towards Somalia. The Ruen, managed by Bulgaria’s Navigation Maritime Bulgare, was last tracked en route to Somalia at 1426 GMT.
