The humanitarian situation aboard the hijacked tanker MT Honour 25 has reached a critical stage, according to the IMO, prompting renewed calls for international intervention as the vessel’s 17 crew members remain captive more than two months after being seized off the coast of Somalia.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Mr. Metse Ralephenya, the Chair of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment, representing signatory states, warned that conditions aboard the Republic of Palau-flagged tanker have deteriorated sharply since the vessel was hijacked on April 24.
According to a direct communication from the ship’s master, five crew members, including the captain, are suffering from health problems. Food supplies have reportedly dwindled to rice alone, and available drinking water is unsafe. The situation escalated further when armed pirates guarding the vessel exchanged gunfire with a rival group attempting to approach the ship, leaving the crew caught between competing armed factions.
Mr. Ralephenya also raised concerns over the crews of the Sward and MV Eureka, which remain in captivity under similar circumstances, noting the urgent need for coordinated international efforts to secure the release of all seafarers being held hostage in the region.
He added that the humanitarian situation has now reached a critical stage, and any further delay significantly increases the risks to the lives, health and wellbeing of those being held hostage.
Signatory states called on the Federal Government of Somalia, the vessels’ flag states, shipowners, insurers, humanitarian organizations and regional partners to intensify diplomatic, operational and humanitarian efforts to bring the crisis to an end.
The statement also highlighted the psychological toll prolonged captivity is expected to have on the affected crews, noting that seafarers will likely require long-term medical treatment, trauma rehabilitation and mental health support following their release.
The latest appeal comes as maritime authorities warn that piracy in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden remains an active security threat despite years of international naval operations that significantly reduced attacks in the region. Recent hijackings have highlighted the persistence of pirate networks, raising concerns that the threat has been contained but not than eliminated.
“The safety, dignity and welfare of seafarers are non-negotiable,” Mr. Ralephenya concluded, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the crews of MT Honour 25, Sward and MV Eureka.
