Puntland, Somalia – A well-informed security source in the Somali region of Puntland announced on Saturday that Somali pirates had released the merchant vessel “Sward.” The release followed months of captivity off Somalia’s eastern coast and came after negotiations resulted in the payment of a ransom for the vessel and its crew.
The security source stated that the vessel’s release took place near the coastal town of Garakad. He confirmed that all crew members remained safely on board at the time of the release. Meanwhile, the kidnappers left the vessel this afternoon in several vehicles, heading toward the shore before entering the town’s neighborhoods. Although the source confirmed that the pirates had received a ransom for the vessel’s release, he did not disclose the exact amount.
The incident dates back to last April, a period that saw notable pirate activity in the region’s waters. The European Union’s naval mission, “Atalanta,” documented the hijacking of the oil tanker *Honor 25* on April 21, followed just days later—specifically on the 26th of the same month—by the hijacking of the vessel *Sward*.
Over the past few decades, the Somali coast has witnessed extensive activity by armed pirate groups that hijack ships to reap massive profits through ransoms. However, despite intensive international efforts—particularly the European “Operation Atalanta,” which has been ongoing since 2008 and succeeded in significantly reducing hijacking rates since 2013—maritime threats persist due to the region’s fragile security situation.
