Story perspectives

Three Ships Hijacked Off Somalia; Pirates Threaten 150 nm Zone

4/30/2026

Summary

Pirates Hijack Ships

Three vessels were hijacked off Somalia within a week, the carrier Sward on April 26 and the tanker Honour 25 on April 21.
The Sward left Suez on April 13 and was seized off Garacad, with 20 pirates taking its 17-member crew.
The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean warned vessels to stay alert within 150 nautical miles of Mogadishu to Hafun as piracy, which peaked in 2011, has risen since 2023.

Summary

Trump Deploys Forces

President Donald Trump in January 2026 authorized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy United States (U.S.) forces and drones against pirates.
Petrol prices in Mogadishu tripled since the U.S.–Israel-Iran war, worsening the fuel crisis after the Honour 25 hijacking.
The World Bank estimates Somali pirates earned $339-$413 million in ransom payments between 2005 and 2012.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) contributes about $50 million yearly to Puntland’s maritime police.

Summary

UKMT Ops Upgrade

UK Maritime Trade Operations upgraded the piracy threat level to “substantial” because weather now favors small-boat attacks.
Vanguard and Ambrey confirmed the Sward hijacking and notified the Puntland Maritime Police Force.
Skuld warned of a new risk phase, noting pirates now use hijacked fishing dhows as motherships and urging shippers to revise Somali Basin and Gulf of Aden assessments while UK Maritime Trade Operations advised extreme caution and prompt reporting.

History

Historical Context

In April 2009 Somali pirates seized the U.S.-flagged container ship Maersk Alabama, the first U.S. vessel taken since the 1815 Barbary wars. After the crew locked down the engine room and captured pirate leader Abduwali Muse, USS Bainbridge sent SEAL Team 6, whose snipers killed three pirates and rescued Captain Richard Phillips. The ship carried roughly 17,000 metric tons of cargo, including 5,000 tons of food aid.

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Pirates Hijack Ships

Three vessels were hijacked off Somalia within a week, the carrier Sward on April 26 and the tanker Honour 25 on April 21.
The Sward left Suez on April 13 and was seized off Garacad, with 20 pirates taking its 17-member crew.
The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean warned vessels to stay alert within 150 nautical miles of Mogadishu to Hafun as piracy, which peaked in 2011, has risen since 2023.

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