Somali pirates release Yemeni fishing boat

Somali pirates who hijacked the Yemeni-flagged fishing boat Saytuun-2 last week have released the vessel after stealing crew belongings.

The Saytuun-2 was captured off Garmaal on the northern coast of Puntland on 17 February.

The European Union Naval Force’s Operation Atalanta on 24 February announced the vessel had been released after being “under pirate activity from 17 to 22 of February.

On Saturday, the vessel was vacated by the alleged pirates after they stole some of the crew’s belongings. On 23 February early in the morning, Atalanta conducted a friendly approach and gathered information from the fishing vessel crew. The crew reported that, after the pirate boarding, they proceeded to high seas with the alleged pirates armed and equipped with ladders, and after several days, the alleged pirates abandoned the ship and further intentions.

The crew and vessel were released without harm and allowed to sail on.

“The successful cooperation with the Yemeni Coast Guard and Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF), one of the key Somali police forces, is being crucial to face the fight against piracy in the area,” Atalanta stated.

The Operation noted that this is the second pirate attack detected in the northern coast of Puntland in recent weeks, “and it should not be discarded that similar organised piracy incidents might take place again in the area.”

Atalanta said it remains vigilant to any piracy-related events in its area of operations and urged ships to be on high alert when transiting the region.