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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, met in London with the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Domínguez, to request the release of 10 Pakistani sailors held by pirates for several months aboard the Honour 25, off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.
"After thanking the Secretary-General for his support for the ongoing efforts to secure the safe release of the 10 Pakistani sailors held aboard the MT Honour 25, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs requested urgent and effective institutional intervention for the prompt return of all sailors," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan communicated.
"The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted Pakistan's continuous efforts to strengthen maritime governance, implement international maritime standards, and further develop its blue economy. Both parties also discussed strengthening cooperation between Pakistan and the IMO on maritime security, regulatory reforms, and the development of the Pakistani maritime sector," it added.
In July of this year, the European Union Naval Force (Eunavfor) Operation Atalanta reported that the Honour 25, registered under the flag of Palau, had been hijacked off the northern coast of Somalia while en route to Mogadishu on April 21.
According to the report, the vessel was carrying petroleum products, and its crew consisted of a total of 17 people, most of them from Pakistan.
The boarding of the Honour 25 was in addition to three other incidents that occurred in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden area, particularly off the coasts of northern Somalia and Yemen, which involved the vessels Sward, Eureka, and Asana.
In this regard, Eunavfor stated in July that "the four vessels hijacked by pirates are anchored off the northern coast of Somalia, within territorial waters and very close to the coast, maintaining a short distance from each other. Eunavfor Atalanta continues to monitor the situation, exerting pressure on Pirate Action Groups in the area and in direct contact with Somali forces, effectively exchanging relevant information on the four piracy events."
"Since the first piracy incident took place, Atalanta's Maritime Security Centre of the Indian Ocean (MSCIO) has issued multiple warning alerts to all vessels sailing in the vicinity to maintain increased vigilance, adhere to Best Management Practices – Maritime Security, and immediately report any suspicious activity or relevant information to the MSCIO and UKMTO," it added.
"Atalanta maintains close contact with the vessel owners and has established a direct link with their flag states. Atalanta remains committed to supporting the successful release of the vessels and the 67 crew members in captivity as soon as possible," concluded the report from the European Union's maritime military operations group.
