The cargo vessel Sward, carrying cement from Suez to Mombasa and registered under St Kitts and Nevis, was reportedly hijacked 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad and is being steered toward the Somali coast. Vanguard said the ship’s 15-member crew included two Indians and 13 Syrians, while Puntland officials reported nine pirates boarded the vessel. The incident is the latest in a resurgence of Somali piracy since late 2023 amid reduced patrols and resources shifted to counter Houthi threats. Regional shipping has also been disrupted by tensions in the Gulf that have curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Suspected Pirates Hijack Cement Ship Sward, Steering It Toward Somalia
A cargo ship is seen in a port in central Mogadishu [File: Ed Ram/Getty Images]
Pirates are suspected of seizing the cargo vessel Sward off the coast of Somalia and are reportedly steering it toward the Somali shoreline, officials and maritime security groups said.
Incident Overview
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the Sward was hijacked about 6 nautical miles (11 km) northeast of the coastal town of Garacad on Monday. The vessel, flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, was en route from Suez, Egypt, to Mombasa, Kenya, carrying a cargo of cement.
The British maritime security firm Vanguard said the ship’s 15-member crew included two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians. Vanguard assessed the vessel to be under pirate control and proceeding toward the Somali coastline, and said the Puntland Maritime Police Force had been notified.
"The vessel is currently assessed to be under pirate control and proceeding toward the Somali coastline,"
Local Response
An operations officer with the Puntland Maritime Police Force told The Associated Press that nine pirates boarded the Sward and took control. "The ship is currently under the control of armed men, and we are monitoring the situation," the officer said. Local authorities and regional security actors have been informed and are tracking the vessel.
Context: Resurgence of Piracy
Somali piracy caused major disruption along the Horn of Africa from roughly 2008 to 2018, but international naval patrols and enhanced maritime security measures dramatically reduced attacks. Activity began rising again in late 2023 amid a decline in anti-piracy patrols and a shift of resources to counter Houthi-led attacks on shipping near the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
Recent incidents include the seizure of an oil tanker that had left a Red Sea port in the breakaway Somaliland region and was later taken in waters off Puntland while bound for Mogadishu. In November, a commercial tanker off the coast of Mogadishu came under attack by armed assailants using machine guns and rocket launchers.
Wider Shipping Disruptions
The shipping environment has been further strained since Feb. 28 by significant tensions in the Gulf region that have effectively curtailed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, many vessels have been rerouted via the Suez Canal, sent on the considerably longer voyage around the Cape of Good Hope, or had cargoes diverted by pipeline to the Red Sea to avoid passage through the strait.
No injuries or fatalities have been reported so far, and there has been no official confirmation of ransom demands or further intentions by the hijackers. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
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