Puntland Tanker Rescue
Puntland maritime police successfully rescue a hijacked oil tanker and seventeen crew members.
Anonymous
Puntland maritime police say they rescued the Palau-flagged oil tanker Honour 25 and its 17 crew members in a planned operation near Bandar Beyla, months after pirates seized the vessel on April 21. Officials said several suspected pirates were detained and two were wounded; the tanker was reportedly carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, and the pirates had demanded a $3 million ransom. Relatives and rights groups had described harsh conditions for the hostages, including shortages of clean water and medicine. The rescue follows another recent tanker recovery, amid a resurgence of Somali piracy and scrutiny of Puntland authorities after many suspects arrested in an earlier operation reportedly escaped during transfer.
Key Points
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The crew included at least 10 Pakistanis; reports also said the crew included Indonesian and Sri Lankan nationals.
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Relatives and rights groups said the crew were surviving on contaminated tank water and one meal of boiled rice a day, while some hostages reportedly suffered stress-related illnesses without essential medication.
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Families of Pakistani crew members held repeated demonstrations in Karachi to press for diplomatic and rescue efforts; children of some crew members reportedly experienced anxiety and panic attacks.
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The tanker was reportedly chartered by Puntland businesspeople and was sailing toward Mogadishu when it was hijacked.
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Puntland President Saeed Abdullahi Deni had vowed to fight the pirates without mercy, comparing the campaign to the government’s fight against ISIS militants in the Bari region.
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