Somali pirates have released a commercial ship they seized months ago along with its full crew after a ransom payment, according to security officials in the northeastern region of Puntland. The vessel, known as the MV Sward, was taken on April 26 by armed men off the Somali coast. Its 17 crew members, consisting of 15 Syrian nationals and two Indian sailors, remained on board throughout the ordeal.
The pirates turned the MV Sward into a mothership. From it they launched further attacks and managed to seize at least two Iranian fishing boats plus the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf. Puntland security sources told reporters that the pirates finally freed the Sward near the coastal town of Garacad. The crew stayed on the ship while the pirates moved ashore, climbed into waiting vehicles, and entered the town. Officials noted that cars were already positioned on the beach, suggesting the pirates stayed in contact with their land-based network the entire time they were at sea. Multiple local security sources confirmed the same details and stated that money changed hands to secure the release, though they did not reveal the exact amount.
Earlier reports from the end of August indicated that a $2.5 million ransom had already been paid for the MV Lutuf, while $40,000 secured the freedom of the two Iranian fishing vessels. Somalia’s federal government offered a different account of the Lutuf release, claiming it followed sustained military pressure from the Turkish navy and Somali forces. Those operations destroyed four pirate boats and left 14 pirates dead.
Piracy off the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden has surged again this year. The International Maritime Organisation records at least 15 attacks so far, the highest number since 2013. Four commercial vessels remain in pirate hands: the tankers Honour 25, Eureka, Asana and Seamull. The United States sanctioned the Seamull last December, identifying it as part of Iran’s so-called shadow fleet used to move oil through deceptive shipping practices.
The latest release of the MV Sward shows both the continuing threat and the complex mix of negotiation, ransom and occasional military action that still shapes maritime security in the region. Local officials continue to monitor the remaining hijacked ships while international navies keep patrols active in these busy shipping lanes.
