Somali Pirates Attack.

10:09 AM 03/21/2017.

The last merchant ship was hijacked in the year 2012 by the Somali pirates. After so long period pirates have hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Somalia, The ship hijacking was occurred is in the area overseen by the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, which is based in Bahrain.

hijacked tanker

The M/T Aris 13, Comoros-flagged oil tanker on Monday reported being approached by two skiffs. The ship was carrying fuel from Djibouti to Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

Earlier on Thursday, Naval forces clashed with the pirates after they opened fire.

The release occurred after negotiations by local elders and local officials of Puntand and their anti-piracy agency, confirmed the release of the ship Thursday night and it to escort it to port. with the pirates, who seized the tanker on Monday and held eight Sri Lankan crew members hostage.

Pirates who seized a Comoros-flagged oil tanker released the ship Thursday without conditions and the pirates have disembarked the ship, and it is now heading to Bossaso port, the region's commercial hub.

Also the pirates said that the only reason they seized the ship was in protest of the illegal fishing in the area that has threatened livelihoods, not for ransom.

Mean while unconfirmed reports said that the Sri Lanka Government had recognized the semi-autonomous region of Puntland as an independent country as a gesture for its effort in releasing the Sri Lanka marine officers and seaman who were serving in the captured tanker.

Source: Marine watcher.