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The family of Mohamed Rady, a mechanical engineer employed by UAE-based Royal Shipping Linesan, who has been stuck aboard the 'Eureka', has appealed to the Foreign Ministry to intervene. Eight Egyptian and four Indian nationals were being held on board, after the tanker was seized by an armed crew of Somali nationals at the beginning of May after entering Yemeni maritime territory on May 2. The vessel and its crew were now located off the Puntland coast. The hijackers were demanding a ransom of US$3.5 million in exchange for the crew’s release. The captors were allowing the hostages to contact their families once every four or five days for no more than five minutes at a time. The Foreign Ministry said on May 11 that it was following the case closely, and the Egyptian embassy in Mogadishu had been instructed to contact “the highest levels of the Somali authorities to monitor the welfare of the eight Egyptians, ensure their safety and security, and work toward their swift release. The UAE also condemned the hijacking of the tanker, expressing its support for efforts aimed at ensuring their safety and securing their release, and also called for “international efforts to combat piracy and organised crime in vital maritime routes and enhanced regional and international cooperation to protect commercial vessels.

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.

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.

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.

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.