Somali Pirates Abandon Hijacked UAE Dhow After Supplies Run Low

The 11‑member gang seized the lemon‑laden dhow off Dhinowda, Somalia, in late April. They intended to use the vessel as a mothership – a larger ship that carries smaller attack boats – to target passing cargo vessels.

Pirates told Puntland security officials they abandoned the dhow because food and water ran short and commercial ships had stepped up vigilance, making attacks impossible. The crew’s fate remains unknown, and Somali authorities have not commented on the vessel’s status.

The incident arrives as the Joint Maritime Information Centre, a multinational monitoring body, upgraded piracy threat levels to “severe” after a string of recent hijackings. Vessels such as the tanker Honour 25 and the tanker Sward remain under pirate control, while the petrol tanker Eureka was steered toward Somali shores.

Historically, Somali piracy cost the global economy up to $18 billion a year, according to the World Bank. The recent uptick follows a shift of international naval patrols toward the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, leaving the Gulf of Aden more exposed.

The abandonment of Fahad‑4 signals that pirate groups still rely on hijacked ships for logistics, but they are vulnerable to supply shortages and improved ship defenses. As commercial vessels adopt stricter alert protocols, pirates may face more frequent abandonments or be forced to seek alternative tactics.

What to watch next: Monitor naval patrol deployments in the Indian Ocean and any changes in ship‑alert procedures, which will shape the trajectory of the renewed piracy threat.