Pirates in Somalia release hijacked vessel MV Sward
Near the port of Garacad in Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region, pirates released the MV Sward vessel, which was seized in April along with its 17-member crew. The Express Tribune reports, citing AFP and sources in Puntland security services.
According to one AFP source, the crew remained aboard the vessel, while the pirates reached shore, got into several vehicles and headed to Garacad. The source said a ransom was paid for the vessel’s release but did not disclose the amount.
Crew from Syria and India
Armed men seized the MV Sward off the coast of Somalia on April 26. There were 15 Syrian citizens and two Indian citizens aboard, who were held hostage. According to sources, the pirates used the vessel as a floating base to seize at least two Iranian fishing vessels and the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf.
Another source in Puntland security services noted that vehicles had been waiting for the pirates on shore before their arrival. According to the source’s assessment, this may indicate the pirates’ connection to a land-based network. Two other sources in Puntland confirmed these details to AFP.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Rising number of attacks
According to the International Maritime Organization, a new increase in pirate activity has been observed in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia since April. At least 15 attacks have been recorded there since the beginning of the year, the highest figure since 2013.
At the end of August, sources in Puntland reported that $2.5 million had been paid for the release of the MV Lutuf and $40,000 for two Iranian fishing vessels. Somalia’s federal government stated that the MV Lutuf was released after prolonged military pressure from the Turkish Navy and Somali armed forces; according to its data, four pirate boats were destroyed and 14 pirates were killed at that time.
According to AFP, pirates still hold four commercial vessels off the coast of Somalia: the tankers Honour 25, Eureka, Asana and Seamull. In December last year, the United States imposed sanctions on the Seamull, calling it one of the vessels in Iran’s “shadow fleet,” which is accused of exporting Iranian oil using deceptive shipping practices.
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