Pirates have hijacked an oil tanker with 17 crew members that was sailing near the Somali coast, according to multiple security officials. The ship, Honour 25, was overrun late on Wednesday by six gunmen, when it was approximately 30 nautical miles offshore.
This area of the Indian Ocean, notorious for hijackings, had seen piracy almost vanish until three years ago, but it has made a concerning comeback. The seizure of a tanker headed for Mogadishu is likely to raise anxiety in the city where petrol prices have already surged due to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
The Honour 25 was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, security officials from Somalia's Puntland region reported. The ship had departed the port of Berbera on February 20, arrived near the UAE, then circled close to the Strait of Hormuz before redirecting towards Mogadishu on April 2.
Currently under pirate control, the vessel has anchored close to the Somali shore, with additional armed men boarding since the initial hijacking. Authorities are unclear how the hijackers managed to intercept the tanker, and neither Somali officials nor the European Naval Force in charge of anti-piracy efforts have issued a statement regarding the incident.
This area of the Indian Ocean, notorious for hijackings, had seen piracy almost vanish until three years ago, but it has made a concerning comeback. The seizure of a tanker headed for Mogadishu is likely to raise anxiety in the city where petrol prices have already surged due to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
The Honour 25 was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, security officials from Somalia's Puntland region reported. The ship had departed the port of Berbera on February 20, arrived near the UAE, then circled close to the Strait of Hormuz before redirecting towards Mogadishu on April 2.
Currently under pirate control, the vessel has anchored close to the Somali shore, with additional armed men boarding since the initial hijacking. Authorities are unclear how the hijackers managed to intercept the tanker, and neither Somali officials nor the European Naval Force in charge of anti-piracy efforts have issued a statement regarding the incident.
