Hijacked Chinese fishing vessel freed along Somalia’s coastline

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A fishing vessel with links to China was released after two months in captivity, the Chinese embassy in Somalia confirmed, noting that 18 crew members were all recovered and are safe and sound after the worst ordeal in the deep waters.

In a statement published on X (formerly Twitter), the embassy said all crew members were rescued and are in 'good condition'. They were released following a close follow-up by the government of the People's Democratic Republic of China.

“The Chinese side strongly condemns this vicious action which threatened the safety of the crew and international navigation security, and will continue to firmly safeguard the lawful rights of Chinese citizens and enterprises overseas,” the statement said.

Reports indicate the ship and its crew were hijacked in November 2024 and taken to Xaafuun district in the semi-autonomous state of Puntland, a territory in Somalia’s northeast. The pirates who took the ship later demanded a ransom of $10 million, AP reports.

It was not immediately clear if the money was paid. But the pirates have often released such vessels after hefty payment is made to their close links to avoid possible trace by the international police and other investigation agencies.

The embassy statement said “the Chinese side maintained close consultation and coordination” with federal authorities in Somalia as well as the regional government of Puntland in efforts to rescue the ship and its crew.

Cases of piracy along Somalia’s coastline have often surged in recent months, with the groups soliciting huge amounts of money from their victims. But generally, the cases are not as significant as in the past when most piracy cases were reported along the Indian Ocean coastline.

Somalia has also been dealing with unregulated fishing along its 3,333 coastline, leading to the confiscation of some fishing vessels. The United States and other European nations have maintained a strong presence in Somalia waters solely to tackle the pirates.

GAROWE ONLINE