Somali Piracy Threat Upgraded to "Substantial" as Second Major Vessel Hijacked Amid Regional Conflict and Strait of Hormuz Closure

Maritime threat levels jump to "substantial" as pirates seize the Honour 25 and Sward off Somalia, exploiting regional war and fuel crises.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from DefenceWeb

Double Hijackings Heighten Maritime Alarm

A series of rapid-fire pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has forced international maritime authorities to upgrade the regional threat level to "substantial." In less than a week, two commercial vessels have been seized, signaling a dangerous revival of Pirate Action Group (PAG) activity. This resurgence comes at a critical time when global shipping is already reeling from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and heightened military tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran.

The Seizure of the Honour 25

The first major incident occurred on April 21, when at least eleven gunmen boarded the tanker Honour 25 approximately 30 nautical miles off the Somali coast. Carrying 18,500 barrels of oil, the vessel was destined for Mogadishu to provide relief for a severe domestic fuel crisis. The tanker is currently anchored near Xaafun in Puntland with 17 crew members from diverse nations including India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. Analysts warn that the loss of this cargo could cause petrol prices in Somalia to spike even further, destabilizing an already fragile economy.

The Sward Hijacking and Forced Redirection

On Sunday, April 26, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that unauthorized persons had taken control of a second vessel, identified as the 8,500-ton cargo ship Sward. The St. Kitts and Nevis-flagged vessel was transporting cement from Egypt to Kenya with 15 Indian and Syrian crew members when it was boarded by nine pirates near Garacad. The hijackers have redirected the ship into Somali territorial waters, further confirming a coordinated effort by pirate groups to exploit the current regional security vacuum.