Concerns over the resurgence of piracy off Somalia’s coast have intensified after the tanker MT Honour 25 remained in the hands of Somali pirates for more than three months, with reports indicating that the captors are demanding a multimillion-dollar ransom for the vessel and its crew.
The Palau-flagged tanker was hijacked on April 21, 2026, while sailing off northern Somalia en route to Mogadishu. The European Union Naval Force’s Operation ATALANTA confirmed the seizure and has continued to monitor the vessel’s movements.
Among those held aboard are 10 Pakistani nationals, along with crew members from several other countries. Reports from Pakistan indicate that the hostages are facing increasingly difficult conditions, with shortages of food, clean drinking water and medical supplies.
Some crew members have reportedly sent messages appealing for urgent assistance as their captivity stretches into a fourth month.
According to maritime industry sources and reports from Pakistan, the pirates are seeking approximately $3 million in ransom.
While earlier reports cited varying figures, the $3 million demand is the amount most frequently referenced in recent accounts, although no final agreement has been confirmed.
The hostage crisis has prompted sustained diplomatic efforts by several governments.
In June, Somali Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali and Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar discussed the situation and agreed to maintain close coordination until the crew is released.
Indonesia has also engaged with relevant parties after several Indonesian citizens were identified among those being held.
Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic campaign in recent weeks, directing its embassies and officials to work closely with Somali authorities and international partners in search of a peaceful resolution.
The case has renewed fears that Somali piracy is re-emerging after years of relative decline.
Piracy attacks once posed a major threat to international shipping between 2008 and 2018, but multinational naval patrols and stronger security measures dramatically reduced the number of successful hijackings.
However, maritime security agencies have reported a series of incidents in 2026 involving commercial vessels operating near Somali waters.
In addition to MT Honour 25, Operation ATALANTA has linked several other maritime security incidents to the region, including the hijacking of the cargo vessel MV Sward and threats involving other commercial ships.
Security reports indicate that MT Honour 25 was seized about 28 nautical miles off Somalia’s coast after pirates allegedly used another previously hijacked vessel to approach the tanker.
The ship was later tracked near Puntland’s coastline, particularly around the Eyl area, where international naval forces have continued surveillance operations.
The incident has once again highlighted the challenge of securing Somalia’s vast coastline, one of the longest in Africa.
Limited maritime enforcement capabilities, combined with the strategic importance of shipping routes linking the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, have long made the region vulnerable to piracy.
The prolonged captivity of the crew has placed growing pressure on Somalia and the countries whose citizens are being held.
Governments now face a difficult dilemma: paying ransom risks encouraging further piracy, while refusing negotiations could prolong the hostages’ ordeal and increase the threat to their safety.
With the vessel still under pirate control and no breakthrough yet announced, international attention remains focused on efforts to secure the release of the crew and prevent a wider resurgence of piracy in Somali waters.