Pakistani Survivors of Hijacked Tanker Moved to Garowe
Pakistani survivors of a hijacked oil tanker have been moved to Garowe, the capital of Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region, as Pakistan works to arrange the safe return and repatriation of Pakistani sailors released after more than five months in captivity.
The Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 was seized by Somali pirates off Puntland on April 21 with 17 crew members aboard, including 10 Pakistanis. Puntland forces recovered the vessel this week after five crew members were killed, including three Pakistanis, while four others were wounded.
Injured Pakistani Sailors Receive Medical Treatment
Foreign Office spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan confirmed the deaths of the three Pakistani sailors and provided an update on the surviving crew during his weekly news briefing on Thursday.
He said the surviving crew members were initially brought ashore at Bandar Beyla after the tanker was recovered and were subsequently transferred safely to Garowe, where the injured are receiving treatment.
Three of the four injured crew members are Pakistani nationals, according to the Foreign Office.
Pakistan had earlier said that the injured crew members were receiving medical care at a nearby hospital, while officials from the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti were travelling to Bandar Beyla to assist them.
Pakistan Coordinates Crew Repatriation
Khan said the Pakistani government remained in contact with Somali authorities and other stakeholders to facilitate medical treatment for the injured, the repatriation of the mortal remains, and the safe return of the surviving Pakistani crew members.
The three Pakistani sailors killed were identified as Rafiullah Khan, Syed Kashif Umar and Mahmood Ahmed Ansari.
Puntland maritime police said the five crew members were killed by pirates before the operation to recover the tanker began. An Indian and a Myanmar national were also killed, while an Indian sailor was among the four wounded.
Puntland authorities said the vessel was secured and suspected pirates were detained, bringing the crew’s captivity, which began in April, to an end.
Maritime Security Remains a Key Concern
The MT Honour 25 incident highlights the continuing risks associated with maritime piracy, particularly for commercial vessels and seafarers operating in waters affected by security threats.
With the tanker now secured and the surviving crew receiving medical treatment, the immediate priorities are the repatriation of the deceased sailors, continued care for the injured, and the safe return of the surviving Pakistani crew.
The incident also underscores the importance of maritime security, piracy prevention and coordination between coastal authorities, shipping stakeholders and governments when commercial vessels and their crews are targeted.
Read:What is Maritime Law? A Complete Guide to Maritime Admiralty Law and Shipping Regulations
