$2.7m Ransom Frees MV Sward: Somali Piracy Surge Hits 15-Year High
Somali pirates release hijacked MV Sward and 17 crew members after 138 days in captivity.
Somali pirates have released the hijacked vessel MV Sward and its 17-member crew after holding them for several months, according to security sources in Somalia’s Puntland region. The ship was freed near Garacad, a port in Puntland, following a ransom payment, though the exact amount remains undisclosed.
The crew, consisting of 15 Syrian nationals and two Indian nationals, was still on board when the ship was released on April 26. Pirates abandoned the vessel and returned to shore, where vehicles were waiting to transport them. Security sources suggested the pirates may have coordinated with contacts on land while at sea.
Pirates Used Hijacked Ship to Launch Further Attacks: somali pirates
After seizing the MV Sward, pirates repurposed it as a mothership to carry out additional hijackings. Among their targets were two Iranian fishing boats and the Cameroon-flagged MV Lutuf. Both were later released after separate ransom payments.
Puntland security sources reported that $2.5 million was paid for the MV Lutuf, while the Iranian fishing boats were freed for $40,000. However, Somalia’s federal government contradicted this account, stating the MV Lutuf was released after a military operation involving the Turkish navy and Somali armed forces. The government claimed four pirate boats were destroyed and 14 pirates killed during the mission.
Piracy Surge Raises Concerns for Maritime Security
The release of the MV Sward comes amid a resurgence of pirate activity in the region. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has recorded 15 attacks off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden this year—the highest number since 2013. Four commercial vessels remain in pirate hands, including the Seamull, which the United States sanctioned in December for its alleged role in Iran’s “shadow fleet.”
Security experts warn that the current spike in attacks could worsen without reinforced naval patrols and counter-piracy measures. The incident underscores the persistent risks faced by shipping crews in one of the world’s most dangerous maritime zones.
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