A general cargo vessel has been taken over by suspected pirates off Somalia's waters, with the ship now sailing towards the Somali coastline.
This incident marks a concerning resurgence of pirate activity in the region, which had experienced a lull since 2018.
The St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged vessel, Sward, was hijacked in the vicinity of Godobjiran, Somalia, according to reports from British maritime security groups Vanguard and Ambrey.
The crew of 15, comprising two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians, is currently being held captive by the pirates.
Pirate activity has been on the rise in recent months, with several incidents reported off the coast of Somalia.
The UKMTO described the incident as a hijack, occurring 6 nautical miles north-east of Garacad.
The ship was originally sailing to Mombasa, Kenya from Suez, Egypt when it was boarded by the pirates.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force has been notified about the incident and is working to resolve the situation.
This latest incident highlights the ongoing threat posed by Somali pirates to maritime trade in the region.
