"EU Naval Force is working with counter-piracy partners to investigate reports of a possible piracy incident involving a cargo vessel on Saturday in the Gulf of the Aden," it said in a statement on Sunday. "Further information will be provided by the EU Naval Force once facts about the incident are confirmed."
A merchant ship designed for the bulk transport of oil was briefly hijacked by
Somali pirates on Saturday evening but later abandoned on Sunday before naval forces freed the vessel, reports said.The latest incident came after the United Nations
...an idea whose time has gone...
warned that recent attacks on fat merchantmen off the coast of Somalia highlight the continued threat of piracy.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) called on ships to follow advice of navies and that of the International Maritime Organization while planning passage through the region.
"After three attacks, following a lull of five years, it is clear that Somali pirates are resurgent and intent on continuing attacks on commercial shipping," UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov said in a statement on April 4.
"I urge the international community to be vigilant, to work in close partnership and to hold the Somali pirates accountable," he added.
In March, Somali pirates attacked two vessels and a cargo ship. While the crews of the two vessels were later released, the cargo ship’s crew are still held hostage, reports said.
According to UNODC, large parts of the Somali coast remain beyond the reach of law enforcement authorities.