Working Conditions Aboard the Sward

On April 26, 2026, the bulk carrier 'Sward' fell victim to piracy off the Somali coast. Following its hijacking, the vessel was taken into Somali territorial waters on April 27. The crew of the 'Sward' consists of 15 individuals, including two Indian nationals and 12 from Syria. At the time of the incident, the ship was en route from Adabiya to Mombasa. In a separate incident, the 'New Venture', another bulk carrier, was targeted on May 1, 2026, by a skiff containing seven armed individuals, including one wielding an RPG. This encounter took place approximately 92 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla within the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC). A day later, on May 2, the UKMTO reported a suspicious encounter involving a bulk carrier that was approached within 500 meters by a green-hulled skiff, which was accompanied by a white fishing vessel. These recent incidents highlight a troubling resurgence of piracy in the region, as they follow the hijacking of two vessels in late April. Notably, the tanker 'Honour 25' was seized on April 21. EU NAVFOR has indicated that it is closely monitoring the situation regarding both hijacked vessels. In related developments, the Togo-flagged tanker 'Eureka' was boarded by armed pirates while it was anchored in the Port of Sana on May 2.

On August 8, 2025, at approximately 08:00 UTC, the cargo vessel 'Sward', which was traveling from Zonguldak to Yemen, encountered an engine malfunction while navigating near the Haydarpaşa Breakwater in the Istanbul Strait. The vessel issued a distress call, prompting a swift response from the Istanbul Vessel Traffic Services Center. A strait pilot was deployed to assist, and the vessel was successfully towed by the tugs 'Kurtarma 5' (IMO: 9463164) and 'Kurtarma 7' (IMO: 9598608). By 09:00, 'Sward' was safely secured at Ahırkapı Anchorage, located at coordinates 40° 59' N 028° 58' E. For further details, view the report with accompanying photo here: https://x.com/kiyiemniyet/status/1953755027366936817.