Puntland Maritime Forces Seize Ship Held by Pirates off Somalia Coast

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) troops have retaken control of a fuel tanker that was reportedly seized by pirates months ago off Somalia’s northeastern coast, according to preliminary reports from Puntland.

The vessel, MTHonour, sailing under the flag of Palau, was reportedly seized by pirates on April 21 while travelling towards Mogadishu. The vessel was later held off the coast near Bandarbayla in Puntland’s Bari region.

PMPF forces launched a planned operation to retake the vessel and free its crew, with preliminary reports saying the troops succeeded in taking control of the ship and detaining members of the suspected pirate group.

Two suspected pirates were reportedly wounded during the operation, while other members of the group were taken into custody.

The circumstances of the operation and the condition of the crew have not yet been officially detailed. The number of people detained and whether any weapons or equipment were seized during the operation also remain unclear.

The reported operation comes amid renewed international attention on piracy off Somalia’s coastline, following concerns over the resurgence of armed attacks and maritime insecurity in the wider Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.

Somalia’s long coastline has remained vulnerable to piracy despite years of international naval patrols and counter-piracy operations. Puntland forces have previously carried out operations against pirate groups operating along the region’s coastline.