According to Khadija Mamouni of the Moroccan Research Center, Somali pirates are now utilizing drones and advanced GPS systems to track the movements of ships. Mamouni also stated that these pirates have evolved into a well-organized industry, conducting planned attacks and utilizing sophisticated technology. They have also formed alliances with the Houthis in Yemen and the Al-Shabab group in Somalia, which has provided them with military training and additional weapons. These pirates use boats called “dhows” to carry out their attacks on ships. Maritime security experts have noted an increase in piracy attacks, with groups using different techniques and militias than in previous years. Christopher Hockey, a maritime security expert, described the hijacking of the MT Eureka ship as unusual, as it involved around 30 pirates. This increase in attacks coincides with ongoing tensions in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, which are related to the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Experts believe that these pirates are taking advantage of the security crisis, as many ships are now passing through the African coast to avoid conflict zones. The pirates typically attack their targets in speedboats, using AK-47 rifles and RPG rockets before boarding the ships. This threat is not limited to commercial ships, as even cruise ships have been targeted. In fact, last year, passengers on the Queen Anne were instructed to turn off their cabin lights and stay away from the ship’s exterior as it passed through a high-risk piracy area.
