LONDON – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued an urgent appeal for the release of 44 seafarers who have been held hostage by pirates off the Somali coast for several months, warning that their humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly due to severe shortages of food and water and mounting security threats.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, addressing the 137th session of the IMO Council in London, said the seafarers are facing increasingly perilous conditions and daily threats of violence. The hostages are aboard three vessels: MT Honour 25, MT Eureka, and MV Sward, which were hijacked in separate attacks off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden between April and May 2026.
The IMO has previously urged the immediate release of the 44 seafarers, with Dominguez stating that “the humanitarian situation of these 44 seafarers is deteriorating. They are running short of food and water and are under constant threat of violence.” The three vessels were hijacked in a series of attacks that marked a troubling resurgence of piracy in the region.
A Troubling Resurgence of Piracy
The IMO’s appeal comes amid a significant increase in piracy and armed robbery attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The agency reported that 24 attacks, including both attempted and successful incidents, have been recorded in the past three months, with perpetrators using increasingly heavy weaponry and violence.
Pirates have demanded $10 million for the release of the MT Eureka’s crew, which includes eight Egyptians and four Indians. The vessel, a Togo-flagged product tanker carrying approximately 2,800 tonnes of diesel, was boarded by armed attackers on May 2 off the coast of Yemen’s Shabwa province and forced toward Somali waters. The crew’s families have reported that the captors have issued direct death threats and warned they will kill the hostages unless a ransom is paid within an extremely tight deadline.
The situation has become increasingly dire, with the hijackers reportedly threatening to execute the crew if ransom demands are not met. The ship’s owner had requested more time to gather the money, a request the hijackers flatly rejected, threatening drastic action against the hostages.
The Hijacked Vessels
The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, was hijacked off Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland region on April 21, 2026, with 17 crew members aboard, including ten Pakistani sailors. The MT Eureka, a Togo-flagged product tanker, was seized on May 2 off the coast of Yemen’s Shabwa province with 22 crew members, including eight Egyptians. The MV Sward, the third vessel, was also hijacked during this period. In total, 44 seafarers are being held across the three ships.
Global Increase in Piracy
The IMO report also highlighted a 17 percent increase in global piracy and armed robbery incidents between 2024 and 2025, with incidents rising from 146 to 171. Dominguez called on IMO member states and all stakeholders to intensify efforts to secure the safe release of the hostages and urged shipowners and shipping companies to implement best management practices and comprehensive risk assessments before transiting high-risk areas.
Naval analysts attribute the resurgence to a shift in international naval resources toward the Red Sea, creating a security vacuum that pirate groups are exploiting. The United States has authorized drone strikes and military force against pirate groups, while the European Union has expanded surveillance through Operation Atalanta.
The Djibouti Code of Conduct
The IMO said it continues to support counter-piracy efforts through the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the Jeddah Amendment, which unites 22 countries in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden to strengthen regional maritime security cooperation and response capabilities. The Code, which has been instrumental in coordinating regional efforts, has been signed by Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Yemen.
The Maritime Security Centre for the Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) has issued multiple warnings about the new pirate hijacking threat, as vessels continue to be targeted in a string of attacks. The UK Maritime Trade Operations has raised the piracy threat level to “substantial.”
Way Forward
The IMO’s urgent appeal underscores the growing humanitarian and security crisis unfolding off the Somali coast. As diplomatic efforts continue through various channels, the families of the 44 seafarers await news of their loved ones’ fate. The international community faces a critical test in its ability to respond effectively to the resurgence of piracy and secure the release of the hostages.
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