Armed pirates have successfully hijacked the oil products tanker Honour 25 (also referred to as "Owner 25") off the northeastern coast of Somalia.
Armed pirates have successfully hijacked the oil products tanker Honour 25 (also referred to as “Owner 25”) off the northeastern coast of Somalia.
The vessel was intercepted on April 21, approximately 24 to 30 nautical miles southeast of Xaafuun (Hafun) by six gunmen who boarded after a brief confrontation.
The tanker, which was carrying roughly 18,500 barrels of oil, has since been moved to an anchorage between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla while under pirate control.
The hijacking resulted in 17 crew members being taken hostage, including 11 Pakistani nationals, as well as sailors from Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
Family members of the crew have expressed deep concern as official contact with the vessel has been lost, though reports indicate that negotiations for the release of the Indonesian captain may be underway.
Authorities in Pakistan have urged the Somali government to assist in diplomatic efforts for the safe recovery of their personnel.
This incident marks a significant resurgence in piracy activity in the Horn of Africa, which had seen a period of relative calm following intensive international naval patrols.
Experts suggest that the increase in attacks is fueled by regional instability and economic factors, such as the depletion of local fish stocks by illegal foreign trawlers and rising fuel prices in Mogadishu due to Middle Eastern conflicts.
In response to this and other recent boarding attempts, the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) has deployed additional assets to investigate and monitor the situation.
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