Conflicting ransom claims arise as Somali pirates hold tankers, with families urging swift government action amid worsening conditions for crew members.
As the crisis involving tankers held by pirates off the coast of Somalia continues, conflicting statements regarding ransom demands have drawn attention. A person claiming to represent the pirates denied reports that a demand of 10 million dollars was made for the MT Honour 25, stating that the pirate leaders requested 3 million dollars in exchange for the safe release of the ship, crew, and cargo. The statement suggested that the claim of 10 million dollars was spread by 'some third parties' in Somalia to government officials and relevant circles.
Nevertheless, the families of the held crew members report that the pirates have increased their demands and that conditions on the ships have worsened. Families of Pakistani sailors called on the government to act more swiftly during a protest held in Karachi. They reported that the crew has no access to clean water, is forced to drink dirty water taken from the tanks, and can only eat boiled rice once a day.
The MT Honour 25 tanker, flagged from Palau, was seized on April 21 off the coast of Puntland, Somalia, with 17 crew members on board, 10 of whom are reported to be Pakistani. The Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the pirates have not directly contacted the government, and negotiations are being conducted through the ship owner and Somali authorities. It was noted that a delegation from the Pakistani Embassy in Djibouti visited Somalia from May 7 to 10 to gather information about the hostages' situation. Officials assessed that the option of a military operation carries significant risks due to the flammable cargo on the tanker.
Another tanker in the region, the Eureka, is also under the control of pirates. The Togolese-flagged tanker was seized on May 2 while carrying approximately 2,800 tons of diesel fuel off the coast of Yemen. Maritime security sources indicate that the series of kidnapping incidents that have occurred in recent weeks suggests a resurgence of Somali piracy.
The European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta confirmed that three different vessels were hijacked in April and warned commercial ships to stay at least 150 nautical miles away from the Somali coast and to enhance their security measures. Security experts believe that conflicts in the Middle East and pressure on energy transportation have reactivated pirate groups.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
