MICA CENTER EVENT 02 9 – 18 / JUNE / 26 ☠ PIRACY ACTIVITY – INDIAN OCEAN 📅 I ncident Date : APR - MAY - JUN / 2 6 ⏱️ Incident Time : / Although there have been no reported incidents of piracy since November 2025 (STOLT SAGALAND, HELLAS APHRODITE, AL THUMAMA), a marked resur gence has been observed since 21 April. A. Previous piracy attacks and events 21/04/2026 HONOUR 25 Hijack 09°55N - 051°22E 22/04/2026 MV ELFRIEDE Attempted boarding 06°23N - 049°49E 26/04/2026 SWARD Hijack 06°58N - 049°25E 28/04/2026 MINERVA PISCES Suspicious activity 03°15N - 056°24E 01/05/2026 NEW VENTURE Attempted boarding 12°59N - 048°39E 02/05/2026 EUREKA Hijack 13°56N - 048°25E 02/05/2026 MV TRIKERI Suspicious activity 13°34N - 050°12E 23/05/2026 CARUZO Suspicious activity 14°09N - 053°58E 23/05/2026 PENTOZALI Suspicious activity 13°33N - 050°28E 23/05/2026 MYSTERY Suspicious activity 13°48N - 051°05E 23/05/2026 FORTITUDE Suspicious activity 13°52N - 051°09E 23/05/2026 NEVAH Suspicious activity 13°36N - 050°14E 23/05/2026 MASHA.ALLAH 1 Attempted boarding 12°57N - 049°10E 23/05/2026 FATAH AL KAREEM Attempted boarding 12°07N - 044°51E 10/06/2026 MARIA F Attack 12°42N - 047°45E 14/06/2026 LBC TUGCE Attack 09°51N - 051°19E 15/06/2026 GRETA STAR Attack 13°10N - 046°27E 15/06/2026 VST AMARA Attack 12°24N - 046°46E 17/06/2026 FAREEDA 5 Attack 13°14N - 046°45E MICA CENTER EVENT 02 9 – 18 / JUNE / 26 MICA CENTER EVENT 02 9 – 18 / JUNE / 26 B. New piracy incidents since the previous note - 1 4 /06 – LBC TUGCE – Attack : On 14 June 2026 at 07:30 UTC, the Palau - flagged general cargo ship LBC TUGCE was approached while underway off Somalia. Two skiffs, each carrying approximately six armed individuals, closed on the vessel and opened fire while ordering it to stop. The vessel’s armed security team returned fire for approximately 30 minutes, after which both skiffs disengaged and left the area. The crew, armed guards, vessel, and cargo were r eported safe. No damage or injuries were reported. - 1 5 /06 – GRETA STAR – Attack : On 15 June 2026 at 07:35 UTC, the Panama - flagged cargo vessel GRETA STAR was attacked by a suspect ed pirate craft while underway. T he approximately 25 - metre blue vessel, carrying an estimated seven armed individuals, attempted to intercept and board the ship and op ened fire using heavy firearms. The Master increased to maximum speed and implemented anti - piracy measures in accordance with the Ship Security Plan and Best Man agement Practices (BMP). Adverse weather and sea conditions reportedly prevented the perpetrators from boarding. No injuries or damage were reported. - 1 5 /06 – VST AMARA – Attack : On 15 June 2026 at 13:35 UTC , the Panama - flagged tanker VST AMARA came under at tack while in the Gulf of Aden. A white skiff carrying three to five persons approached the vessel after being sighted approximately 6 NM away. Despite warnings from the embarked armed security team, the skiff fired one rocket - propelled grenade (RPG), which missed the vessel. The security team returned fire with 12 rounds, prompting the skiff to alter course and proceed towards the Somali coast. At least two occupants were reported to be armed with AK - 47 rifles. No injuries to crew or damage to the vess el were reported. The vessel subsequently resumed its passage at maximum safe speed. - 1 7 /06 – FAREEDA 5 – Attack : On 17 June 2026 at 1 6 : 10 UTC , the Gambia - flagged tanker FAREEDA 5 was attacked while transiting northeast of Aden, Yemen. The tanker was approached by two skiffs carrying an unknown number of armed persons. The skiffs closed to near the vessel and reportedly opened fire. The vessel’s embarked security team returned fire, prompting the skiffs to disengage and move away from the area. No inju ries or damage were reported, and all crew were confirmed safe. MICA CENTER EVENT 02 9 – 18 / JUNE / 26 C. S tatements As PAGs are active in the area, ship crews are on high alert, which may explain the high number of suspicious approaches. As the monsoon begins in the Indian Ocean, it is likely that incident s will be con concentrated in the Gulf of Aden in the coming months. Course of Action - Armed pirate groups use Iranian - style dhows almost systematically to act on the high seas . The pirates blend into regular maritime traffic and launch small boats from the mothership to attack other vessels. They are capable of carrying out attacks up to 600 nautical miles offshore (as in the case of the HELLAS APHRODITE). - Closer to the coast, particularly off Puntland (Somalia), piracy primarily targets illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Attacks are often launched directly from the shore, without a mothership. - The case of EUREKA does not fit the standard tactics of the pirates, who came to seize it in the Yemeni territorial waters. Dangerous Area and group structure - The nature of the attacks suggests the potential existence of several pirate groups active both in the Somali basin and the Gulf of Aden - Consequently, the current danger zones extend primarily from Dhinowda to Xafuun, with ex tensions into the Gulf of Aden, especially with the onset of the monsoon in the Somali Basin Why this trend? This resurgence of piracy against merchant ships can be explained by the following factors: - Somalia’s chronic inability to maintain security along its coastline. - A renewed sense of confidence among pirates, fueled by the belief that naval forces are focused on the situation in the Persian Gulf; - I ncreased tactical confidence following the successful attack on the MV HONOUR 25, SWARD FAHAD 4 and EUREKA which notably ended the series of failed attacks encountered in November 2025 . A single successful attack can yield several million, dollars in ransom. - T he need to compensate for the decline in revenue from various illegal maritime activities in the Gulf of Aden, activities that have been significantly impact ed by the war in Iran, and a possible alliance between al - Shabaab and PAG.