Somali pirates who attacked a chemical tanker operated by a Bermudian-registered company were forced to turn back, 330 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Reuters has reported.

Stolt-Nielsen, a Hamilton company, confirmed the unsuccessful attack on Monday: “Our crew are all safe, having responded swiftly and professionally to the incident.”

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported the tanker was on its way to its next port of call and confirmed the safety of the crew.

The European Union’s antipiracy naval force dispatched a warship to hunt for the suspected pirate mother ship, an Iranian-flagged fishing dhow, used to launch attacks off Somalia.

The event was widely reported, especially in the shipping press, because of the fear that it confirmed a return to active pirate attacks, which had abated in recent years.

Various publications, including Business Insurance, Lloyd’s List, Arab News, Shipping Watch and Sea Trade Maritime News are reporting that the Caymanian-flagged MV Stolt Sagaland came under attack early in the morning when four unauthorised persons attempted to board the vessel from a small craft but were repelled by the ship’s armed guards.

The mother ship for the pirate vessel was about five nautical miles from the tanker during the incident.

An industry bulletin issued by Combined Maritime Forces said several rounds were fired from the pirate vessel using an AK-47-type weapon but security forces on board MV Stolt Sagaland returned fire and the small craft operators abandoned the boarding attempt.

Stolt-Nielsen Ltd is a global logistics and aquaculture company with its corporate headquarters in Hamilton.

Founded in 1959, it is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and known for its bulk-liquid transportation, storage and distribution services, as well as land-based fish farming.

Its operations include Stolt Tankers, Stolthaven Terminals, Stolt Tank Containers and a Stolt Sea Farm.

Tradewinds News reported that dormant Somali piracy, which had its heyday between 2008 and 2012, bounced back in 2023 after the Houthis in Yemen began attacking ships in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.

Somali pirates often used hijacked dhows as mother ships, blending in with the usual traffic and deploying skiffs to attack vessels they single out.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident and have advised vessels to transit the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.