Mogadishu, Somali – A Chinese-owned fishing vessel that was hijacked off the Somali coast in November has been released, along with its 18-member crew, the Chinese Embassy in Somalia announced on Monday.
The embassy, in a statement posted on X, credited “the unremitting efforts of the Chinese government” for the crew’s rescue. The statement strongly condemned the hijacking, which posed a significant threat to the safety of the crew and international navigation security.
The ship and its crew were seized in late November and taken to Xaafuun district in Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in northeastern Somalia. The pirates initially demanded a $10 million ransom. 
While it remains unclear whether a ransom was paid, the embassy statement acknowledged close consultation and coordination with both the federal government of Somalia and the Puntland regional government in the efforts to secure the release of the ship and its crew.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges of maritime security in Somali waters. Although piracy incidents have significantly declined since their peak in 2011, when over 160 attacks were recorded, the threat remains.
The presence of American and allied navies in international waters has played a crucial role in mitigating the risk of piracy in recent years.
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