The cargo ship “SWARD,” carrying 16 Syrian sailors, was hijacked by armed pirates near Somalia’s coast at dawn on Sunday, April 26, in an incident described as “reflecting the rising security risks in maritime corridors off the Horn of Africa.”
According to data from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, “UKMTO,” the vessel was seized and forced to change course toward Somali territorial waters. Its crew, most of whom are Syrian sailors, remained detained as this report was being prepared.
Families of the detained sailors appealed to the Syrian authorities to conduct urgent negotiations to secure the release of the detained crew members and ensure their safety.
Indirect negotiation channels usually begin in the days following a piracy operation, the pattern commonly seen in Somali piracy incidents.
The Ship Sward and Its Last Movements
The “Sward” is a general cargo ship built in 1998, making it 28 years old, and currently sails under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
“AIS,” data from 12 days earlier placed the ship in the Arabian Sea. It was heading to the Kenyan port of Mombasa at a listed speed of more than 102 knots, with arrival expected on May 1 at 18:00.
According to details in the reports, said about 10 armed men attacked the ship using three fast boats, known as skiffs. They forcibly boarded the vessel, then took control of the bridge and engine room before redirecting it toward the Somali coast.
Seafarers Union Reassures Detainees’ Families
The media and cultural officer of the Syrian Seafarers and Deep Sea Workers Union, Captain Abdul Majid al-Jardi, reassured, in an interview with Enab Baladi, the families of the sailors aboard the “Sward.”
Al-Jardi explained that the union is following up on the hijacking of the vessel, which was hijacked on April 26, six nautical miles northeast of Garacad, Somalia, an area known for repeated activity by maritime piracy groups. The vessel had 16 Syrian sailors aboard and was flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Al-Jardi noted that direct contact had been made with the ship’s owners from the first hours, confirming that all crew members were well, no injuries or mistreatment had been recorded, and the sailors were in stable condition so far and carrying out their daily work, according to him.
Al-Jardi revealed that negotiations are underway to release the ship and crew, noting that they are being conducted carefully and deliberately to achieve positive results.
The relevant international bodies were contacted, especially after UKMTO published the hijacking report, according to the media officer of the Syrian Seafarers Union. He confirmed that this follow-up is continuing and that any developments will be announced as soon as they are received.
Reading the Security Context
The incident comes amid indicators of a return of Somali piracy activity after a period of relative decline, as international maritime reports recorded several similar incidents in recent months.
This escalation is attributed to a relative decline in the intensity of international naval patrols, alongside internal economic and security factors in Somalia.
The area extending along Somalia’s coast is considered one of the most sensitive points on global trade routes, raising the importance of a rapid international response to such incidents.
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