The United Arab Emirates has expressed condolences following the deaths and injuries of crew members during an operation to recover the hijacked oil-products tanker MT Honour 25 off Somalia’s coast.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was deeply concerned by the casualties recorded during the operation to free the vessel.
Puntland authorities said the tanker was recovered on Tuesday in the Dharin-Bar area of Puntland’s Bandar Beyla district.
According to Puntland authorities, five members of the tanker’s multinational crew were killed and four others sustained injuries during the operation. None of those reported killed or wounded was identified as an Emirati national.
The UAE Foreign Ministry described the incident as a serious concern for maritime security and the protection of international commercial shipping routes.
It extended its condolences to the families of those who died and expressed wishes for a rapid recovery for those injured.
The ministry also stressed that secure maritime routes are essential to international commerce and global economic stability.
It called for stronger cooperation between countries in the region and the wider international community to safeguard commercial vessels, protect maritime workers and maintain safe navigation.
The MT Honour 25 was reportedly seized by pirates off the Somali coast in April and remained under their control until the rescue operation on September 29, when Puntland authorities announced that the vessel had been freed.