Somali pirates have seized a fuel tanker and taken 17 crew members hostage off the northeastern coast of Somalia, in the most significant maritime hijacking in the region so far this year and a fresh sign that piracy is once again threatening one of the world’s key shipping corridors.
The vessel, identified as the Honour 25, was seized late Wednesday by at least six armed men when it was approximately 30 nautical miles offshore, according to security officials in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region. The tanker, which was en route to Mogadishu, is now anchored near the coast between the fishing towns of Xaafun and Bander Beyla. Additional armed men have reportedly boarded the ship since the initial attack.
The Honour 25 is a small product tanker of around 3,000 deadweight tonnes, registered in Palau, and appears to have been operating on fuel runs between the Middle East and Somalia. It was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil at the time of the seizure.
The crew of 17 is made up of nationals from five countries: 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one from Myanmar. Their condition has not been confirmed by authorities.
According to maritime tracking data, the vessel had been circling in waters close to the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz before turning back toward Mogadishu on 2 April. Officials believe the hijackers launched the operation from a remote coastal area near Bander Beyla, though how they intercepted and boarded the tanker remains unclear.
As of the time of reporting, neither the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta, which oversees anti-piracy efforts in Somali waters, nor the Somali federal government had issued a public statement on the incident. Earlier in the week, there were separate unconfirmed reports of a vessel boarding, and of an armed exchange between guards aboard another cargo ship and an approaching small boat.
The hijacking comes as fuel prices in Mogadishu have surged sharply in recent months, driven by disruption to regional supply routes amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. The cargo aboard the Honour 25 would represent a valuable prize for any group seeking to exploit that shortage.
The incident reflects a broader deterioration in maritime security across the western Indian Ocean. The current resurgence of piracy follows notable hijackings in 2023 and 2024 and coincides with periods when regional naval assets have been redeployed to other theatres, creating windows of opportunity for pirate groups to operate. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) recorded 137 piracy incidents globally in 2025, up from 116 the previous year, with Somali groups demonstrating the ability to operate hundreds of nautical miles from shore.
Shipping companies have been advised to maintain heightened vigilance and to register voyages with maritime security authorities when transiting the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
