Puntland forces have rescued 20 crew members and retaken the MT Sibu 1 after Somali pirates hijacked the oil tanker off the coast of Yemen last month.
GAROWE, Somalia (Somali Report) — Puntland security forces have retaken an oil tanker seized by Somali pirates last month and rescued all 20 crew members aboard the vessel, officials said Friday.
The operation was conducted by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) off the coast of Mudug, where security forces moved against the pirates and regained control of the tanker, officials said.
The vessel, MT Sibu 1, was hijacked in August while sailing through waters near Yemen. Somali pirates seized control of the ship before taking it towards Somalia, according to maritime security reports.
Puntland officials said the operation involved an exchange of fire between the security forces and the suspected pirates. At least one pirate was killed and four others were wounded during the confrontation, while 15 people suspected of belonging to the pirate group were arrested.
One Puntland security officer was also wounded in the operation, officials said. No injuries were reported among the tanker’s crew, who were all described as safe.
The Sibu 1, an oil-products tanker identified by IMO number 9204776, is about 178 metres long. The ship had 20 crew members aboard when it was seized, including 16 Indian nationals.
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The other crew members were from Syria, Sudan and Iraq, while the nationality of one sailor was not immediately established, according to information previously reported by the Associated Press.
The hijacking renewed concerns over the return of Somali piracy in the waters around the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden, years after international naval patrols and stronger security measures had sharply reduced attacks on commercial shipping.
Somali piracy had largely declined after reaching a peak in the early 2010s, but several vessels have been targeted again in recent years, prompting renewed international concern over maritime security in one of the world's busiest shipping corridors.
The latest operation highlights Puntland's continuing role in combating piracy along Somalia's northeastern coastline, where its maritime forces have previously conducted operations against suspected pirate networks.
The Puntland authorities have not provided further details on the identities of those arrested or whether the rescued tanker and its crew would remain under their protection before continuing their voyage.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
