Nine pirates hijack Sward cargo vessel off Somali coast

14 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Apr 27

The Sward, carrying cement from Egypt to Kenya with a crew of 15, was seized 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad by pirates now steering it toward Somalia.
The crew includes two Indian and 13 Syrian nationals. Puntland Maritime Police Force and maritime security groups are monitoring the situation as the vessel remains under pirate control.
This is the second hijacking off Somalia in a week, amid resurging pirate activity since late 2023 and increased maritime disruptions from the US-Israeli war on Iran.

With navies busy in the Red Sea, who is left to stop the pirates off Somalia?

How many ships must be seized before international patrols return in force to the Indian Ocean?

Beyond warships, what is the real plan to stop piracy at its source on the Somali coast?

Are today's Somali pirates more sophisticated, or just exploiting a distracted world?

Will rising piracy and Houthi attacks create a perfect storm for global shipping?

Is the Sward hijacking a random attack or the start of a new piracy epidemic?