Rising seas off Somalia threaten LNG moves

An LNG (liquefied natural gas) carrier off the coast of Dakar, January 23, 2025. (Photo: PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP)

According to security sources, the incident occurred in international waters near Somalia when the crew spotted two high-speed boats approaching. They immediately accelerated and contacted the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center. The center later confirmed the vessel was safe and that the attackers had withdrawn.

A maritime industry official said the ship was transporting LNG to a port in Asia, praising the crew’s quick response, which helped prevent any damage or casualties.

The official added that in recent weeks, the number of pirate attacks and attempted hijackings in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean has surged after years of decline.

Another incident occurred just one day earlier.

On Thursday, a commercial cargo vessel was also attacked by an armed group in the same area but managed to escape unharmed.

Experts believe these two consecutive incidents could signal the return of security threats once common in the region in the early 2000s. Thanks to international naval patrol operations, piracy activity had dropped significantly since around 2015.

The waters off Somalia — once considered the most dangerous region in the world for piracy — have improved significantly due to international cooperation, particularly through the European Union’s Operation Atalanta.

Concerns grow as naval patrols decline

Maritime experts warn that the resurgence of attacks comes as international naval forces have reduced their presence, with many countries redeploying ships and resources to the Red Sea and other trade routes affected by conflicts in Gaza and Yemen.

The United Kingdom Maritime Security Center for the Horn of Africa has warned that the rise in piracy could pose a serious threat to global trade routes, especially for oil and gas tankers that frequently pass through key shipping corridors connecting Asia and Europe.

According to experts, Somali pirate groups are taking advantage of weakened security, fewer patrols, and economic hardship to return to their criminal activities at sea.

Impact on energy transport

Attacks targeting oil and LNG carriers are on the rise, raising concerns about soaring insurance costs, route diversions, and added pressure on global energy prices — especially as other maritime routes, such as the Red Sea and the Black Sea, remain tense due to geopolitical conflicts.

No casualties have been reported in the latest incidents, but observers warn that if the trend continues, the world could face a new wave of piracy similar to the early 2010s — when hijackings caused widespread disruption to global shipping.

The Somali coastline has suffered from prolonged decline for nearly a decade, and now pirate groups appear to be reemerging. Experts caution that without stronger maritime security, the region could once again fall into the “piracy triangle” era that once spread fear across the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.