Mogadishu, Somalia — A cargo ship carrying cement and flying the flag of St. Kitts and Nevis was hijacked off the coast of Somalia, a local maritime security official said Monday.
The ship was seized off the coastal town of Garakad in the Somali region of Puntland, according to an operations officer with the Puntland Maritime Police Force, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.
The incident was also reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which cited the hijacking as occurring six nautical miles northeast of Garakad.
The ship had departed from Egypt and was headed towards the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. It was not possible to verify how many people were on board.
Puntland officials said nine pirates boarded the ship and took control of the ship. “The ship is currently under the control of armed men and we are monitoring the situation,” he said.
This is the second kidnapping incident in less than a week; An oil tanker was seized in Puntland waters on Wednesday. The tanker had left Berbera port and was heading towards the Somali capital Mogadishu when it was stopped.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia, once one of the most dangerous in the world, has declined significantly over the past decade due to international naval patrols and improved maritime security. However, sporadic incidents continue to raise concerns about a possible resurgence.
