Pirate attacks reoccur in Somali waters

The UK Maritime Trade Operations Office said on the 25th that it had received a report of a piracy incident in waters off Somalia. The notice shows that on the 21st, military personnel told the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office that unauthorized personnel had taken control of an oil tanker and were maneuvering the vessel southward by about 77 nautical miles within Somalia’s territorial waters. The last known position of the vessel was at 8°56′N, 50°32′E, in waters southeast of Somalia. In addition, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office said on the 23rd that it received a report of a suspicious incident occurring 83 nautical miles southeast of Elre, Somalia. The captain of a cargo ship reported that two small vessels approached the ship, with armed personnel on board. When one of the small vessels came within 600 meters, the cargo ship fired warning shots, and the other side returned fire. The suspicious vessels then left. (Xinhua)