General Cargo Ship Sward Hijacked off Garacad, Somalia — Crew of 15 Under Pirate Control

The St. Kitts and Nevis-registered general cargo ship Sward was hijacked approximately six nautical miles northeast of Garacad, Somalia, on April 26, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta confirmed on April 27.

The 8,500 DWT vessel, built in 1988 and Turkish-managed, was transiting from Suez to Mombasa with a cargo of cement at the time of the hijacking. The ship's 15-person crew comprises two Indian nationals and 13 Syrian nationals.

Maritime security firm Vanguard assessed Sward as under pirate control and proceeding toward the Somali coastline following the seizure. The Puntland Maritime Police Force has been notified.

The hijacking marks the latest incident off the Somali coast, a region that experienced a resurgence in piracy activity in 2023–2024 before a period of relative calm. Garacad, in the Mudug region of Puntland, has historically served as a base of operations for Somali pirate groups.

EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta is monitoring the situation. No further details on crew welfare or pirate demands have been confirmed.