Security forces from Puntland, Somalia, have successfully rescued the MT Honour 25, a petroleum tanker flagged in Palau, which was seized by pirates in April. The Puntland state television reported that the pirates responsible for the hijacking have been apprehended and are set to face legal proceedings.
The MT Honour 25 was taken on April 21, approximately 30 nautical miles off the Puntland coast, with a crew of 17, including 10 Pakistani nationals. This operation follows a recent Puntland counter-piracy mission that freed the US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1, which had been hijacked in August.
Piracy has re-emerged as a significant threat off Somalia’s coast in recent years, raising alarms about the safety of shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. The resurgence echoes the earlier wave of Somali piracy from 2008 to 2014, which severely disrupted global shipping, costing the economy billions and leading to substantial ransom payments.
Puntland officials have not responded to requests for further comment on the recent rescue operation.
