Puntland Forces Recapture Tanker Honour 25 With Crew Casualties
Puntland security forces recaptured the hijacked fuel tanker Honour 25, though reports indicate five crew members were killed during the operation.
The Puntland Maritime Police Force recaptured the Palau-flagged fuel tanker MT Honour 25 on September 29 near Dharin-baar in the Bandar Bayla district. The vessel had been hijacked on April 21 while transporting oil products toward Mogadishu with a crew of 17. During the operation, security forces wounded two suspected pirates and detained others for prosecution.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding casualties. While official Puntland reports focused on injuries to the pirates, local officials and crew members report that five crew members were killed. The deceased include three Pakistani nationals—Second Officer Kashif Umar, Third Engineer Mahmood Ansari, and Oiler Rafiullah Khan—as well as an Indian crew member and the chief engineer from Myanmar. Four other crew members remain injured on board without medical assistance.
The vessel suffered steering system damage during the operation and is being towed toward Bosaso, a journey expected to take three days. Crew members have appealed for helicopter evacuations to recover the bodies and treat the wounded.
This intervention follows the liberation of the Sibu 1 tanker on September 25 and aligns with a pledge by Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni to combat piracy. Despite these actions, the vessels Eureka and Asana remain in pirate custody in Somali coastal waters.
