Somali Pirates Free Hijacked Vessel

MV Sward and its 17 crew members were released near Puntland after pirates reportedly received a ransom.

Somali pirates have released the MV Sward, a vessel hijacked in April and later used as a mothership to seize other vessels, along with its 17-member crew, security sources in Somalia’s Puntland region told AFP.

The vessel was released near Garacad, a port in Puntland, after a ransom was reportedly paid. The amount was not disclosed.

The MV Sward was hijacked on April 26 off the Somali coast while carrying 15 Syrian and two Indian crew members. The pirates subsequently used the vessel in attacks that resulted in the capture of at least two Iranian fishing boats and the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf.

A Puntland security source said the crew remained aboard the Sward while the pirates went ashore and entered several vehicles waiting for them. Another security source said the vehicles suggested the pirates may have maintained contact with an onshore network while at sea.

Two additional Puntland security sources confirmed the release to AFP.

The Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia have experienced a resurgence in piracy since April, according to figures from the International Maritime Organization. At least 15 attacks have been reported in the area this year, marking the highest level since 2013.

Puntland security sources previously told AFP that a $2.5 million ransom was paid for the release of the MV Lutuf, while $40,000 was reportedly paid to secure the release of the two Iranian fishing vessels.