British Media : multiple people board and control a ship off Somalia

Britain’s Maritime Trade Operations Authority said on Tuesday it had received a report that several people had boarded a ship off Somalia and were currently in control.

“The ship is now controlled by unauthorized persons,” it said in a statement, adding that people who boarded the ship arrived in two boats, one small and one large.

Earlier on Tuesday, the group said it had received an incident report 600 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia, and that authorities were investigating.

The authority added in a statement on its official account on the “X” platform that the authorities are investigating the report. The authority called on ships to sail cautiously and report any suspicious activity.

British maritime security firm Ambry said separately that a Bangladeshi-flagged cargo tanker was boarded by people in eastern Somalia.

“Commercial vessels are advised to stay away from this location as this is assessed as an ongoing incident as perpetrators attempt to take control of the bulk vessel,” it said in a statement.

The identity of the people who controlled the ship has not been determined yet