Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with 17 crew that was sailing near the Somali coast, according to multiple security officials who spoke to the BBC.
The ship, Honour 25, was overrun late on Wednesday by six gunmen, when it was approximately 30 nautical miles offshore. The vessel was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil and is now believed to be anchored between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla.
The incident sheds light on a concerning trend, as piracy had nearly vanished in the region following international intervention about a decade ago. However, in recent years, hijackings have again become more common, targeting fishing trawlers and container ships. The resurgence of such activities may introduce new safety challenges for maritime operations across the Indian Ocean.
Notably, this seizure is likely to increase anxiety in Mogadishu, where petrol prices have already tripled amid ongoing conflicts in the region, particularly related to the US-Israel war with Iran.
The Honour 25 set sail from Berbera, a port in the self-declared republic of Somaliland, and had recently navigated towards Mogadishu. After circulating in the waters close to the Strait of Hormuz, the ship turned back towards Somalia just before the hijacking.
Authorities have reported that an additional five armed individuals have boarded the tanker after the initial takeover, raising the total number of pirates involved. Officials suspect that the attackers originated from a remote area near Bander Beyla, but further details regarding the method of interception remain unclear.
As of now, neither the Somali authorities nor the European Naval Force, responsible for overseeing anti-piracy operations in the region, have issued statements regarding the incident, highlighting the ongoing complexities of maritime security in this pivotal area.
