Somalia: 17 crew members released after 138 days in pirate captivity

The cargo ship MV Sward and its 17 crew members were released on September 11 near Garacad, in the Somali region of Puntland, after spending 138 days in the hands of pirates. Security sources from Puntland, cited by several media outlets, indicated that a ransom had been paid, although the amount was not specified.

The vessel was hijacked on April 26 off the coast of Garacad, with 15 Syrians and two Indians on board. On the same day, UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a cargo ship had been taken under control by unauthorized individuals six nautical miles northeast of Garacad and then redirected to Somali territorial waters.

The MV Sward was carrying fertilizers and was en route to Mombasa, Kenya. During its captivity, the pirates used it as a mother ship to extend their reach, seizing at least two Iranian fishing vessels as well as the cargo ship MV Lutuf, which was flying the Cameroonian flag.

At the time of their release, the 17 crew members were still on board. According to accounts from Puntland security sources, the pirates left the ship near Garacad before heading to the mainland, bringing an end to a detention that began nearly five months earlier.

This release comes amid a resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden. Data from the International Maritime Organization, cited by AFP, reports at least 15 attacks in the area since the beginning of 2026, the highest level since 2013.

Four commercial vessels remained in the hands of pirates according to information released after the Sward’s liberation. Another ship, the MT Glamour, was also briefly targeted in the Gulf of Aden on September 10 before its assailants abandoned the vessel the following day.