Puntland forces free Palau-flagged tanker seized by Somali pirates
Puntland security units recaptured the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker hijacked in April, and detained the pirates for trial.
Puntland's maritime security reported the successful recovery of the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged tanker seized by pirates in April near its shoreline. The ship, transporting petroleum products, was boarded by pirates roughly 30 nautical miles from Puntland, with a crew of 17 members, ten of whom were Pakistani nationals. Puntland forces detained the hijackers and said they will be brought before a court.
The rescue comes shortly after regional police freed the US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1, which had been captured in August. Authorities noted that piracy has re-emerged in Somali waters, raising concerns for vessels navigating the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. The incident recalls a previous wave of Somali piracy from 2008 to 2014 that disrupted major shipping lanes and cost billions in ransom payments.
