British maritime security groups Vanguard & Ambrey reported that suspected 'pirates' boarded an unregistered general cargo ship flying the St. Kitts and Nevis flag off Somalia and were guiding it towards the Somali coast.

Between 2008 and 2018, Somali pirates wreaked havoc on the long coast of the Horn of Africa country. Pirate activity began to increase again in 2023 after a long lull.

Vanguard stated in a late Sunday note that it was aware reports of armed pirates hijacking a vessel near Godobjiran in Somalia. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said that the incident took place 6 nautical miles to the north-east from Garacad.

Vanguard reported that the 15-member crew of the ship consists of two Indians and thirteen Syrians.

The vessel is under pirate control, and it is moving towards the Somali coast. "The Puntland Maritime Police Force was notified," the statement said.

Ambrey stated in a statement that the vessel was sailing from Suez, Egypt to Mombasa Kenya at the time of the board. Ambrey stated that all?the crew? were on the bridge, except for two mechanics.

Puntland's assistant information minister and Puntland's security officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Armed assailants attacked an?commercial oil tanker in November 2025 off the coast?of?Mogadishu. This was the first incident of this kind since 2024. Reporting by George Obulutsa in Nairobi and Vincent Mumo Nzilani, Jonathan Saul, in London, Abdiqani hassan, in Garowe in Somalia; Editing by Tom Hogue and Aidan Lewis

(source: Reuters)