Sponsored By

Somali pirate hijacking? Or did Eritrean military board vessel?Somali pirate hijacking? Or did Eritrean military board vessel?

There are conflicting reports as to whether Somali pirates have successfully hijacked their first merchant vessel since 2012, or that it was taken by Eritrean forces.

Marcus Hand, Editor

January 20, 2014

1 Min Read
Kalyakan - stock.adobe.com

The general cargoship Marzooqah was boarded on Saturday off the coast of Eritrea.

Initial reports from international naval forces operating in the area said the vessel had been hijacked after it was boarded by armed personnel who forced the vessel to anchor off the coast of Eritrea.

However, Reuters later quoted EU Navfor as saying that the vessel had been boarded by the Eritrean navy and not hijacked by pirates.

"We assess this is an operation by the Eritrean forces, who went on board the vessel," Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline Sherriff, spokeswoman for EU Navfor was quoted as saying. "We believe the vessel is now in the hands of the Eritrean forces.”

The fact the vessel was taken to the Eritrean coast rather than moved to Somalia is not consistent with an attack by Somali pirates.

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

Get the latest maritime news, analysis and more delivered to your inbox
Join 12,000+ members of the maritime community

You May Also Like