Cargo Vessel Sward Released After Months of Pirate Captivity

The general cargo vessel Sward was released on 11 September near Garacad, Puntland. All 17 crew members including fifteen Syrian and two Indian are reported to be safe.

Vessel SWARD, image credit: Sakis Antoniou

The Sward was captured off Dhinowda, on the northern coast of Somalia on 26 April and was reportedly used as a mothership to extend the pirates' reach and capture other vessels.

Sailing under the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, the vessel is managed by Marshall Islands-based Asena Shipping. At the time of the hijacking, the vessel was transporting around 4,500 tonnes of subsidised fertiliser intended for Kenya's National Cereals and Produce Board and tea cooperatives.

Greek-based maritime security company Marisks reported, citing Puntland security sources, that a ransom was paid before the release, although the claim has not been independently confirmed.

Reports indicate that the pirates abandoned the vessel in small boats.

The Sward is a 1998-built vessel that has a length of 100 metres, a beam of 18.8 metres, and a gross tonnage of 5,014.