The Cameroonian-flagged cargo ship Lutuf was hijacked by armed pirates off Somalia on August 17, with crew status still unconfirmed.
A general cargo ship named Lutuf, flying the flag of Cameroon, was seized by eight armed individuals off the coast of Somalia. There has been no official confirmation regarding the status of the ship's crew.
The threat of piracy against commercial vessels off the coast of Somalia has resurfaced. The Cameroonian-flagged general cargo ship Lutuf was hijacked by eight armed individuals on August 17.
According to a warning issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the attack occurred at approximately 11:36 UTC, about 4 nautical miles south of the town of Mareeyo in Somalia. The incident, reported by the ship's company security officer, indicated that eight armed individuals boarded the vessel and subsequently took control of it. UKMTO classified the incident as a 'hijacking.'
Maritime security company Vanguard Tech confirmed that the hijacked vessel is Lutuf. According to Equasis data, the ship is a general cargo vessel with a capacity of 1,401 DWT, built in 1995. The vessel is approximately 76 meters long and operates under the Cameroonian flag.
The current status of the crew has not yet been verified following the attackers' takeover of the ship. There has also been no official statement regarding the identity of the group that carried out the attack or any demands they may have.
The hijacking of Lutuf marks the latest incident in a resurgence of piracy activities off the coast of Somalia in recent months.
In an assessment dated August 16, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) indicated that the threat to commercial vessels off the coast of Somalia is at a moderate level. The center noted that opportunistic attacks continue in the region.
According to JMIC, as of August 16, Somali pirate groups were holding four commercial vessels. These include the Palau-flagged Honour 25, which was hijacked on April 21, the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged Sward, hijacked on April 26, the Togo-flagged Eureka, taken on May 2, and the Tanzania-flagged Asana, captured on July 17.
With the hijacking of Lutuf, the number of commercial vessels held by pirates off the coast of Somalia has reportedly risen to five. Splash247 reports that a total of 44 seafarers are being held by pirates across the four vessels.
Maritime security experts point out that despite monsoon conditions complicating the use of small attack boats, pirate groups have been able to continue their activities. The resurgent threat off the coast of Somalia, combined with existing security issues in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, is increasing the navigation risks for commercial vessels in the region.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
