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Hijacked ship released after almost 4,5 months
The 'Sward' was released by Somalian pirates on Sep 11, 2026, after a ransom in an unknown amount was paid. The release took place near the coastal town of Garakad. All 17 crew members remained safely on board. The crew included 15 Syrian and two Indian nationals. The 'Sward' had been captured on April 26 and since then also been used by the pirates to capture other vessels. These included two Iranian fishing boats and the Cameroon-flagged cargo m/v 'Lutuf'.The kidnappers left the vessel on the afternoon in several vehicles, heading toward the shore before entering the town’s neighborhoods. It spent about 138 days under the control of Somali pirates after it was hijacked off Somalia’s northern coast on April 26. The European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta confirmed that the 'Sward' was transporting fertiliser to Mombasa.
Ships hijacked off Somalia
The 'Sward' has been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia on April 26, 2026. The ship has been transferred to the country's territorial waters on April 27. The crew consisted of 15 people, including two Indian nationals and 12 Syrians. The ship was en route from Adabiya to Mombasa. The bulk carrier 'New Venture' was chased by a skiff with seven persons, heavily armed including an RPG on May 1, 20026, about 92 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla within the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). On May 2, the UKMTO reported a suspicious approach of a bulk carrier 84 nautical miles southwest of Al Mukalla. The Master reported being approached to within 500 metres by one green hulled skiff which was accompanied by one white fishing vessel. The incidents followed a resurgence in Somalia piracy with two vessels hijacked in the latter part of April. The tanker 'Honour 25' was hijacked off Somalia on April 21. EU NAVOR said last week it was monitoring both vessels. The Togo-flagged tanker 'Eureka' was boarded by armed pirates while at anchorage in the Port of Sana on May 2.
Engine failure off Haydarpaşa Breakwater
On Aug 8, 2025, at around 8 a.m. UTC, the 'Sward', en route from Zonguldak to Yemen, suffered an engine failure off the Haydarpaşa Breakwater during the transit of the Istanbul Strait and requested assistance. The response was coordinated by the Istanbul Vessel Traffic Services Center. Under the guidance of a strait pilot, the ship was taken in tow by the tugs 'Kurtarma 5' (IMO: 9463164) and 'Kurtarma 7' (IMO: 9598608). it was safely moored at the Ahırkapı Anchorage in pos. 40° 59' N 028° 58' E at around 9 a.m. Report with photo: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1953755027366936817
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