Somali Forces Free Second Tanker Held by Pirates for Five Months
Puntland Maritime Police Forces successfully rescued a tanker held by pirates for five months off the coast of Somalia. While the operation resulted in the release of the crew, reports indicate that five crew members were killed during the ordeal.
Why it matters
The event underscores the persistent threat of piracy in the Horn of Africa and the regional government's commitment to aggressive maritime security.
12:27 PM by The Maritime Executive
The Puntland Maritime Police Forces are reporting that they freed the product tanker Honour 25 , which had been held by pirates for over five months off the coast of Somalia. Unconfirmed reports from the local media indicate there may have been deaths among the crew and possibly the captain, although the official report only mentions injuries among the pirates.
It is the second aggressive action by the police forces used to free vessels held by pirates in recent days and follows a similar operation led by Turkish forces to free a vessel transporting military equipment. It comes after the president of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, Saeed Abdullahi Deni, said the government would "fight the pirates without mercy."
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