Ransom Talks Underway for Release of Three Ships Held by Somali Pirates, Centre Says
Singapore-based maritime security centre ReCAAP has confirmed that ransom negotiations are in progress for the release of three merchant vessels and their 44 crew members, who have been held by Somali pirates since April and May this year.
The hijacked vessels include the oil tankers Honour 25 and Eureka, along with the cargo ship Sward. The incidents occurred off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden, according to reports from the International Maritime Organisation.
Vijay D. Chafekar, executive director of the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, stated that discussions are being conducted confidentially due to safety concerns for the crew. The talks involve the countries where the vessels are officially registered, the ship owners, and the pirates.
Speaking at a briefing on piracy in Asia, Mr. Chafekar noted an increase in attacks on merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean since the onset of the conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States in the Strait of Hormuz. He said that onboard security personnel have had to open fire on several occasions to repel approaching skiffs and prevent unauthorised boarding. In some cases, pirates succeeded in boarding and hijacking, and at least three vessels are believed to be held captive off the Somali coast.
The official added that many shipping companies are now avoiding piracy-prone waters and the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a sharp rise in freight rates and higher remuneration for seafarers willing to sail through the region. Demand for ships has also increased as many owners are reluctant to deploy vessels to West Asia and have strengthened onboard security measures.
In contrast, piracy levels in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore remain low despite increased shipping activity. No incidents involving the capture or killing of crew members have occurred in the ReCAAP-covered region for nearly a decade.
The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre is a government-to-government centre based in Singapore that enhances Asian maritime security through real-time information sharing, capacity building, and collaborative anti-piracy operations.
According to the centre, 35 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in Asia between January and June this year, a 64% decrease from 96 incidents during the same period last year. Of these, 21 occurred in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, 10 in the Philippines, two in Bangladesh, and one each in Indonesia and Malaysia. Most involved theft of ship stores or spare parts, and no crew members were injured.
