Pirates Hijack Cement Carrier Sward Off Somalia, Second Attack in Days

Pirates seized the cement carrier Sward off Somalia, marking the second hijacking in less than a week and steering the vessel toward the coast.

Maritime routes already face strain from the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway between Oman and Iran, caused by the ongoing US‑Israeli conflict on Iran. Shippers have diverted cargoes around Africa or through the Suez Canal to avoid the chokepoint, raising transit times and costs.

Earlier this week, an oil tanker departing Somaliland was seized near Puntland while heading to Mogadishu, and in November a commercial tanker came under machine‑gun and rocket‑fire attack off the Somali capital. These incidents show a resurgence of pirate activity after years of decline.

The Sward, carrying cement from Suez, Egypt to Mombasa, Kenya, was taken six nautical miles (about 11 km) northeast of the coastal town of Garacad. Nine pirates boarded the vessel and seized control, according to a Puntland Maritime Police Force officer. The ship’s 15‑person crew includes two Indian nationals and thirteen Syrians, and the vessel is currently under pirate control and proceeding toward the Somali coastline.

The hijacking adds to insurance premiums for ships transiting the Horn of Africa and may prompt shipping firms to reroute further south or increase onboard security. Regional authorities have notified the Puntland Maritime Police Force, which is monitoring the situation alongside international naval patrols.

Watch for responses from international naval forces and any shifts in pirate activity off the Horn of Africa as shipping companies reassess risk levels.