Pirates seize oil tanker en route from Persian Gulf to Somalia

Pirates have seized the tanker Honour 25, which was sailing from the Persian Gulf to Somalia, according foreign media.

The incident occurred about 50 kilometers off the Somali coast, between the cities of Berbera and Mogadishu.

The vessel, carrying 18,500 tons of fuel, had a crew of 17 sailors, including nationals of India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center confirmed the hijacking and advised other vessels to exercise heightened caution while transiting the area. 

UKMTO added that the pirates towed the tanker approximately 77 nautical miles (about 143 kilometers) south, into Somalia’s territorial waters.

The incident could mark the first significant resurgence of piracy off the Somali coast since 2011, when international coalition operations sharply reduced pirate activity in the region.

By Jeyhun Aghazada