In Pakistan, the families of the crew members aboard the 'Honour 25' were calling for government support. They said their family members have been held for 23 days since the product tanker was seized on April 21, approximately 30 nautical miles off Somalia’s Puntland region. Ten of the 17 crew members were from Pakistan. A team from the Pakistani embassy in Djibouti went to Somalia from May 7 to 10. They were told the captives were safe. The families were calling for more action to free the crew members were existing in horrible conditions and being forced to drink water from the tanks to survive.
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CS SAKER
The 'CS Saker', while being moored at Sandakan Anchorage, Sabah, in pos. 5° 49.1' N 118° 8.1 E,'was boarded by an unknown number of perpetrators on April 26, 2026, at 4 a.m.. The crew members were not injured, but some unsecured items were stolen from the ship. Ships were advised to intensify vigilance and maintain sharp look out in the area.
MT EUREKA
Family members claimed that the UAE-based managers of the 'Eureka' were slow to begin negotiations. The pirates increased their demands from $3.5 million to $10 million and continue to threaten the crew members. Responding to the demands for action from the family members of the eight Egyptian crewmembers aboard the 'Eureka', Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said it was closely monitoring the situation. The Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he had instructed the embassy in Mogadishu to follow up and ensure the safety of the seafarers. The families said the Egyptians on the ship included engineers, mechanics, officers, and support staff. There were also four Pakistani crew members on the ship. The family members said they were being permitted limited contact with the hostages. During one call, they reported the crew said they were being given limited food and water and being watched over by armed guards.
GALAXY LEADER
On April 30, 2026, some photos were published showing the actual state of the ' Galaxy Leader' at a beach at Ras Isa in Yemen. The stern of the vehicles carrier was submerged, while the bow was pointing to the sky, clearly showing that the ship was flooded. Other vessels could be seen in the background, such as the LPG Tanker 'Pissaro' (IMO: 9108099). Recently, both Israeli and American aircraft have attacked the ship, which has allegedly been used by the Houthis to monitor ship traffic in the Red Sea. It was not clear whether the attacks were the reason why the ship has now partially sunk. Israeli forces bombed the vessel on July 6, 2025, in a targeted operation with fighter jets. This strike caused major structural damage, particularly to the bow. The 'Galaxy Leader' was operated by the Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen and is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd., which is partly Israeli-owned. After the release of the 25 crew members in January 2025, the rebels suggested that the ship would subsequently be returned to Japan. However, this did not happen. Removing or refloating the wreck is no option, as the resources needed for such an operation are currently unavailable in the war-torn country Yemen. Reports with photos and video: https://www.maritimedanmark.dk/kapret-bilskib-delvist-sunket-ud-for-yemen https://lemarin.ouest-france.fr/shipping/les-houthistes-coulent-le-galaxy-leader-un-enorme-roulier-britannique-capture-par-les-rebelles-en-2023-1707625a-479a-11f1-bfe7-d53ecf6ffae9 https://x.com/mercoglianos/status/2049936677762658479
MINERVA PISCES
One of several pirate action groups on the prowl in recent days in the Gulf of Aden has abandoned their efforts on May 4, 2026. The group was running low on supplies aboard the seized dhow 'Fahar 4', while the warnings from MSCIO and Atalanta have increased the security posture across the region. An 11-member pirate action group had set out from the Garacad region in Somalia in late April. They found the Emirati dhow, which was laden with a cargo of lemons, seized the vessel and made it their mothership to begin the prowl for a lucrative merchant ship targets. The 'Fahad 4' was almost certain the vessel used to approach the 'Minerva Pisces' , whichl was enroute, likely fully laden, from Saudi Arabia to Kenya, on April 28. The mothership crossed the bow of the tanker, coming within about 1.2 nautical miles. A skiff was then spotted approaching and came within 400 meters of the tanker. The 'Minerva Pisces' increased speed and executed evasive maneuvers while its embarked security personnel displayed weapons. The skiff withdrew when it saw the armed guards. The tanker arrived in Mombasa without further incidents. At least three other merchant ships have been seized and remained in the hands of the pirates., the tanker 'Eureka', captured on May 2 at the anchorage off Qana Port, Shabwa,. The mission Atalanta was tracking the tanker and reported was underway toward the Somali coast. In April, pirates seized the tanker 'Honour 25#, and days later, another group took control of the cargo m/v 'Sward'. Both ships remained under the control of pirates off the coast of Somalia. The current surge in pirate activity could, in part, be due to the jump in oil prices, making tankers more lucrative targets The renewed activity, which started in late 2023, may also have been due to the diverting of resources to address the strikes coming from the Houthis in Yemen.

