The Chair of the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA) has urged coordinated international action to free the 17 crew members aboard the hijacked MT HONOUR 25 after more than two months in captivity.
The vessel, flagged by the Republic of Palau, was hijacked on 24 April 2026. The Chair also expressed concern for the crews of the SWARD and MV EUREKA, who remain hostage under similar circumstances, urging coordinated efforts to secure the release of all seafarers being held in the region.
According to the latest communication from the Master of MT HONOUR 25, all 17 crew members remain alive, but five, including the Master, are suffering from health problems. Food supplies have reportedly been reduced to rice, while drinking water is said to be unsafe.
The situation has been further aggravated by reports that armed pirates guarding the vessel recently exchanged gunfire with a rival pirate group attempting to approach the ship, leaving the crew caught between competing armed factions.
The Master has appealed to the international community to “help us” and to “ensure that those responsible take urgent action to secure the crew’s release”.
In response, the DCoC/JA Chair, speaking on behalf of the signatory states, called for immediate, coordinated and unconditional action to secure the safe release of the crews, warning that any further delay would increase the risks to their lives, health and wellbeing.
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The signatories urged all parties capable of influencing the situation, including the Federal Government of Somalia, the vessel’s flag state, shipowner, insurers, humanitarian organisations and regional and international partners, to intensify diplomatic, operational and humanitarian efforts to resolve the crisis.
The Chair also thanked Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), for maintaining international focus on the welfare of seafarers affected by piracy, and commended the Government of Pakistan, through its High Commission in London, for its continued engagement with international stakeholders.
Beyond securing the crews’ release, the Chair stressed that those held hostage are likely to require long-term medical treatment, psychological support and rehabilitation after enduring prolonged captivity, deteriorating living conditions and the constant threat of violence.
The statement also warned that the recent incidents demonstrate piracy remains a significant threat in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden despite years of progress under the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment.
The signatory states reaffirmed their commitment to regional maritime security, urging IMO Member States and industry stakeholders to continue implementing SOLAS Chapter XI-2, the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code and Best Management Practices (BMP).
Concluding the statement, the Chair said the safety, dignity and welfare of seafarers must remain paramount, calling for every available effort to secure the immediate release of the crews of MT HONOUR 25, SWARD and MV EUREKA, and to ensure they receive appropriate care and rehabilitation following their release.
For more information:
International Maritime Organization – https://www.imo.org/en
