Two ships are being hacked. "The Ghost of Piracy" Returns to the Indian Ocean

International maritime authorities have warned of a growing risk of piracy after a second cargo ship was hijacked off the coast of Somalia in a week, threatening to exacerbate disruptions in global maritime trade.

The UK's Maritime Trade Operations Authority (UKMTO) reported that unauthorised persons seized a cargo vessel 6 nautical miles off the coast of Jarad in Somalia and diverted it into territorial waters.

The incident comes a few days after another oil tanker was hijacked last Tuesday, where gunmen boarded the northeast of the Mario area and headed towards the coast.

Upgrade the threat to a "significant" level

The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) has raised the level of piracy threat in the area around the Somali coast and the Somali basin to a "significant" level, calling on all vessels in transit to exercise maximum vigilance.

In a statement, the center revealed the details of the hijacking of the oil products tanker "Honor 25", which was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil and a crew of 17 people, as it was forced at gunpoint to head towards the Somali coast, and information about the safety of the crew is still uncertain.

 Security analysts point out that piracy groups have revived tactics used in the 2000s, most notably the use of "mother vessels" (hijacked fishing vessels).

 This tactic gives the pirates the ability to launch long-range attacks up to 300 to 800 nautical miles from shore, using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), they said, reflecting a high level of coordination and combat capability.

The Motivations for Return: The Intersection of Politics and Economics

According to  observers in this regard, according to international media observers, the return of piracy in this regard is attributed to  four main factors, most notably  the decline of international censorship and financial gains, where paying a ransom of $5 million for a hijacked ship in 2024 encouraged criminal networks to return to this lucrative activity, in addition to  illegal fishing that accuses local fishermen in Somalia foreign ships are depleting their resources, creating tacit societal support for piracy activities in response to their economic marginalization.

Observers also point out that this is linked to organized crime , with intelligence reports indicating financial links between piracy groups and armed organizations such as al-Shabaab.

Shipping companies now face a "multi-layered" risk environment, which they say has led to a  sharp rise in marine insurance premiums and increased operating costs as a result of vessel rerouting to avoid danger zones and increased reliance on private armed protection companies.

Maritime authorities have recommended that ships adhere to "best management practices (BMP5)," which include recording voyages at security centers, strengthening physical defences on board vessels, and maintaining constant surveillance.

A Confined Threat or an Escalating Crisis?

Although current levels of hacking have yet to reach their historic peak (2008-2011), experts warn of a worrying upward trajectory.

Containing this threat requires coordinated international intervention that addresses the root causes, by resuming regular patrols, regulating foreign fishing activities, and supporting Somali coastal security, to ensure that the Indian Ocean does not once again become a hotbed of global piracy, analysts say.