Wednesday, September 30, 2026 - Somali piracy has taken a deadly turn after five crew members were killed aboard the hijacked oil tanker MT Honour 25, according to Puntland authorities.
The Palau-flagged vessel was seized off Somalia on April 21 while carrying about 18,500 barrels of petroleum products. Three Pakistani nationals, one Indian and one Myanmar national were among those killed, while four other crew members were injured.
Security forces have since retaken the tanker and arrested 16 suspected pirates, while operations continue to locate others believed to have been involved. The latest incident comes as pirate attacks off Somalia have increased sharply, with officials reporting at least 15 attacks since April.
Several vessels have been targeted or hijacked, putting renewed pressure on maritime authorities and raising fresh concerns for crews operating through the region.
The deaths mark an alarming escalation in the current piracy surge and put the safety of international shipping crews back under intense scrutiny. Recent operations have freed other hijacked vessels, including MT Sibu 1 and MT Eureka, but the continuing attacks show that the threat remains active.
For shipping companies and seafarers, the latest killings underscore the urgent need for stronger protection as vessels continue navigating waters off Somalia.
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