Indonesia Intensifies Talks To Free Tanker Crew Held By Somali Pirates Near Puntland

Indonesia is stepping up efforts to secure the release of four of its citizens held aboard the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 after Somali pirates seized the vessel near the coast of Somalia last month.

The Palau-flagged product tanker was captured on April 21-22 near Hafun in Somalia’s Puntland region while carrying petroleum products.

The vessel had a multinational crew that included four Indonesians, 10 Pakistanis, and crew members from India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said negotiations involving Somali local authorities, the crew management company and other parties are continuing.

“Currently, negotiations between the local government authorities, the crew management and other relevant parties in Somalia are still ongoing,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday.

“There is strong hope that the negotiations for their release can be concluded in the near future.”

Foreign Ministry spokesman Vahd Nabyl A Mulachela said the Indonesian government was continuing to coordinate through its diplomatic mission and other agencies to help free the crew members.

The ministry said the Indonesian sailors are in good health, have enough supplies and are continuing to receive their salaries while being held.

The MT Honour 25 was reportedly carrying around 18,500 barrels of oil and was sailing to Mogadishu when it was hijacked near the Somali coast.

The hijacking has again raised concerns about security risks for commercial ships operating near the Horn of Africa, an important route linking the Indian Ocean, the Gulf region and East Africa.

The incident also comes at a time when global shipping and oil markets are already facing pressure from tensions affecting major maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

References: mediaselangor, malaymail