A Hong Kong- flagged mass provider was struck by pirates off the eastern shore of Somalia today revealing the relentless risk of piracy in spite of the the decline in variety of events off the Horn of Africa.

The strike happened Wednesday, October 16th, when a team of 4 pirates equipped with AK-47s came close to the MV KSL Sydney in a rate watercraft while around 340 maritime miles off Mogadishu, Somalia, according to records from the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre and also EU Naval Force Somalia.

The Master elevated the alarm system and also all staff rounded up in castle. The strike was fended off when equipped guards aboard the mass provider returned fire, leading to the pirates terminating the strike.

All staff and also the vessel are reported risk-free.

“Due to the application of BMP protection measures by the Master, his crew and the private security team, the piracy attack was thwarted and the crew and vessel remained safe,” EU NAVFOR claimed in a declaration.

“There was a sustained exchange of fire before the skiff with several armed people on board broke off and changed course away from the MV,” the declaration included.

Wednesday’s strike is thought to be the 2nd pirate event reported off the shore of Somalia this year.

In February, the MT Leopard Sun, a Singapore- flagged chemical vessel, was struck by armed pirates around 160nm off the shore of eastern shore of Somalia, however that strike also was fended off after the ship’s armed safety returned fire.

Prior to the Leopard Sun strike, the last strike in the area occurred in November 2017 when the British- possessed containership Ever Dynamic was gone after and also bombarded with rocket-propelled explosives. The 6 pirates because event were inevitably caught and also later on butted in the Seychelles

In its 2018 2nd quarter record, the IMB advised that ships transiting the Horn of Africa area stay alert in spite of the decline in variety of assaults. “Masters are however again urged to continue to maintain high levels of vigilance when transiting the high-risk area and to follow the latest version of the best management practices (BMP 5),” the IMB claimed in its record.