Pirates Release Hijacked Yemeni Fishing Boat “Al-Hidaya” Off Somalia

Image Credits: eunavfor
A Yemeni-flagged fishing vessel, Al-Hidaya, hijacked on March 16 off the northern coast of Puntland, Somalia has now been released. The incident occurred near Durdura, close to Eyl.

According to reports, the hijackers abandoned the dhow on March 20 near Dhinowda, a location south of where the vessel was initially seized.

The next morning, on March 21, the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) ATALANTA approached the vessel to assist the crew and investigate the hijacking.

During the operation, all eight Somali crew members were found safe and authorities collected evidence related to the hijacking. This is the third piracy related incident involving a Yemeni fishing vessel in the region.

A Chinese vessel was also targeted, bringing the total the number of piracy incidents in 2025 to four. All of which occurred in the Somali territorial waters.

EUNAVFOR ATALANTA discussed the importance of international cooperation in combating maritime security threats. The force is continuing to ensure safety and protect shipping routes.

The naval force strongly advises merchant vessels and other ships to register under MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme (VRS) for improved monitoring and faster response to security threats.

Reference: eunavfor