Concerns are escalating among families of seafarers aboard vessels seized by Somali pirates, particularly regarding the rising demands for two product tankers. Authorities are monitoring the situation, but family members express that storming the ships is too risky due to their flammable cargoes. With energy prices surging, these tankers have become highly valuable targets, and observers suggest that recent pirate activity may stem from this potential profit.
One of the seized tankers, the Eureka, was captured off Yemen while transporting 2,800 tonnes of diesel from the UAE. The pirates boarded on May 2 and redirected the ship to the Somali coast. Family members claim that the vessel’s UAE-based managers were slow to initiate negotiations, leading pirates to escalate their ransom demands from $3.5 million to $10 million, while threatening the crew.
In response to appeals from the families of the eight Egyptian crew members aboard the Eureka, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry stated it is closely monitoring the situation and has instructed its embassy in Mogadishu to ensure the seafarers’ safety. The crew includes engineers, mechanics, and support staff, alongside four Pakistani members.
Meanwhile, families of crew members on another seized tanker, the Honour 25, are also urging government intervention. Captured on April 21 off Somalia’s Puntland region, the vessel has 10 Pakistani crew members among its 17 total. Reports indicate that a Pakistani embassy team visited Somalia and confirmed the captives’ safety, but families demand more action, citing dire conditions and limited access to food and water.
Share it now
