Azerbaijan secures release of 18 sailors detained in Eritrea

Azerbaijan has successfully secured the release and return of 18 of its citizens who had been detained in Eritrea since November 7 of last year.

The sailors, members of the crews of the vessels CMS Pəhləvan, CMS İgid, and CMS-3 from the Azerbaijani representative office of Caspian Marine Services B.V., were freed following extensive diplomatic negotiations, Caliber.Az reports citing Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

According to a statement released by the ministry, the repatriation was carried out in line with an order from the President of Azerbaijan and resulted from tireless efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, and the Caspian Shipping Company CJSC.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that throughout their detention in Eritrea, the sailors had received consular support through the Azerbaijani Embassy in Ethiopia. Efforts were made to ensure their well-being during their time abroad. The ministry also expressed deep gratitude to the Turkish Embassy in Eritrea for its invaluable assistance in facilitating the sailors' return to Azerbaijan.

The vessels in question — CMS Pəhləvan, CMS İgid, and CMS-3 — were en route to Abu Dhabi as part of a commercial operation, with the planned route passing through the Suez Canal. Due to the vessels' passage through regions known for pirate activity, a security contract was secured with a company specialising in ship protection, and armed guards were assigned to ensure the safety of the ships.

However, on November 7, 2024, the vessels encountered adverse weather conditions while navigating along the Eritrean coastline. Given the circumstances, the captains decided to enter Eritrean territorial waters. Despite attempts to reach Eritrean security and coastguard authorities via the international VHF-16 channel, no response was received.

At 10:06 local time on November 7, the Eritrean Naval Service stopped all three vessels at coordinates 13°23‘N, 042°39’E. As per the naval service’s instructions, the vessels changed course and proceeded to the designated point for inspection. After anchoring, the ships were inspected by the Eritrean Navy.

The crew on board consisted of 24 people, 18 of whom are Azerbaijani citizens, while the remaining six were from other countries.

By Vafa Guliyeva