Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker Carrying 18,500 Barrels And 17 Crew Off Puntland Coast

An oil tanker carrying 18,500 barrels of fuel and 17 foreign crew members has been hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s northeastern coast, according to security officials.

The vessel, identified as Honour 25, was taken over late Wednesday by six armed men when it was around 30 nautical miles offshore. At the time, the tanker was sailing towards Mogadishu.

Officials from Puntland said the ship is now anchored close to the Somali coast between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla.

They added that five more armed men later boarded the tanker, increasing the number of attackers to 11.

The crew onboard includes 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one from Myanmar.

Pakistan’s maritime authorities have reportedly increased efforts to secure the safe recovery of their nationals. The condition of the crew has not been confirmed.

Tracking data showed the tanker had left Berbera in Somaliland on February 20. It later reached waters near the United Arab Emirates before turning back in early April.

The vessel was seen circling near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz before heading towards Somalia.

The tanker was carrying fuel at a time when supplies in the region are already under pressure.

Petrol prices in Mogadishu have risen sharply and are reported to have tripled since the start of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

Officials believe the attackers set out from a remote coastal area near Bander Beyla, which has long been linked to pirate activity. It is still unclear how they managed to intercept and board the tanker.

There has been no official statement from Somalia’s federal authorities or from the European Union Naval Force, which conducts anti-piracy operations in the region.

Piracy had reduced significantly in these waters. Attacks had once been common, especially around 2011, when ships were frequently targeted and large ransom payments were made.

Security officials have recently warned that pirate groups may be trying to return, using fishing vessels or small boats to move further out to sea.

In a separate incident, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported that two small armed boats approached a cargo vessel about 83 nautical miles southeast of Eyl, Somalia.

One of the boats came within 600 metres, and the crew of the cargo ship fired warning shots. The approaching boat returned fire before leaving the area. All crew members on that vessel were reported safe.

References: BBC, somaliatoday