MV Abdullah, carrying 23 crew, seized by pirates heading towards Somali coast

MV Abdullah, carrying 23 crew, seized by pirates heading towards Somali coast

Source_ Hiiraan, Thursday March 14, 2024



Mogadishu (HOL) –  Somali pirates, who hijacked the Bangladesh-flagged ship MV Abdullah from the Indian Ocean on Tuesday, are taking the vessel towards the Somali coast, with 23 sailors onboard currently held hostage. Rescue operations have been initiated following the crew’s broadcasted plea for assistance.

A map from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) details the hijacked ship’s course, indicating it is 72 miles from Garakad, Somalia. At its current speed, the MV Abdullah is expected to reach Somali waters within a day or two. The hijacking occurred approximately at 1:30 p.m. Bangladesh time, as the vessel was transporting 50,000 tonnes of coal from Maputo, Mozambique, to Al Hamriyah in the UAE.

The pirates who hijacked the vessel demanded a $5 million ransom for the ship and its 23 crew members, or threatened to kill everyone.

KSRM Group’s media consultant, Mizanul Islam, confirmed the safety of all crew members aboard the hijacked ship in a statement to United News of Bangladesh, noting, “The ship should arrive at the Somali anchorage by Friday morning.” He emphasized that efforts are underway to ensure the safety and eventual release of the crew.

The ship, operated by SR Shipping, was en route from Mozambique to Dubai at the time of the attack. The owners have publicly acknowledged the hijacking and are actively pursuing the sailors’ release.

This incident recalls a similar event from December 5, 2010, when the MV Jahan Moni, another ship belonging to the same company, was seized by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. That ordeal involved the capture of 25 Bangladeshi sailors and 26 others, including the captain’s wife, who was held hostage for 100 days before their release on March 14, 2011, following negotiations. They were returned to Bangladesh the subsequent day.