Hijacked Chinese Vessel And Its 18 Crew Members Released By Somali Pirates

A Chinese-owned fishing vessel, Liao Dong Yu, was hijacked off the coast of Somalia in late November 2024. The ship and its 18 crew members were held by pirates in the Puntland region of northeastern Somalia.

On January 13, 2025, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia confirmed that the vessel and crew were freed and safely on their way to “safe waters.”

The Chinese government said the crew was unharmed and praised the “unremitting efforts” made for the release.

The pirates had demanded a ransom of $10 million, but it is unclear whether any money was paid. The hijacking happened in late November when pirates with AK-47s and machine guns boarded the Liao Dong Yu off the Somali Coast.

The vessel was taken to the Xaafuun district in Puntland, a region known for piracy.

The European Union’s naval mission, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, first reported the incident in December, classifying it as an “armed …

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