Pirates have reportedly hijacked an oil tanker near Somalia, raising concerns over the safety of its multinational crew, including several Pakistani nationals.
According to local media reports citing shipping sources, the vessel named Owner 25 was attacked and taken over by pirates on April 21. The ship reportedly has 11 Pakistani crew members on board.
Reports say the Ministry of Maritime Affairs’ Directorate of Ports has been unable to establish contact with the Pakistani crew, while the agency that sent the vessel has also remained silent.
The families of the crew said that negotiations are underway with the pirates for the release of the Indonesian captain. They have urged the government to take immediate steps to ensure the safe return of the Pakistani crew members.
It is worth mentioning that Somali piracy, primarily operating in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, emerged in the early 1990s as a response to illegal foreign fishing and toxic waste dumping but Hijackings evolved from protecting resources to capturing large commercial ships, holding crews hostage, and demanding multi-million dollar ransoms. Between 2005 and 2012, they obtained over $400 million.
