Puntland Forces Free Hijacked Vessel in Major Anti-Piracy Operation

PMPF Says MTT SIBU 1 and Its Crew Were Rescued From Somali Pirates Off Mudug Coast

Garowe (WDN) — Puntland’s maritime security forces have carried out a major anti-piracy operation off the Mudug coast, rescuing a vessel and its crew after Somali pirates reportedly held them captive for weeks.

The Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) said its forces stormed the MTT SIBU 1 and brought the hijacking to an end after targeting the pirate group responsible for the seizure.

Puntland said the operation secured the vessel and its crew and reported that members of the pirate group were killed or wounded during the confrontation. No casualty figures were provided, and the administration has not released detailed information about the crew’s condition or identities.

PMPF Intensifies Coastal Security

The operation comes amid increased PMPF activity along Puntland’s coastline, where the force has maintained a longstanding role in combating piracy and other maritime threats.

Puntland said PMPF units had intensified patrols and operations in recent days to disrupt pirate networks and prevent further attacks on commercial shipping. The successful intervention highlights the role of Somali-led maritime forces in responding directly to threats along the country’s coastline.

Puntland has also called for stronger international cooperation on maritime security, arguing that piracy in Somali waters can threaten commercial shipping along major routes linking Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

A Renewed Piracy Concern

Puntland said the MTT SIBU 1 was hijacked off the coast of Yemen on August 21, 2026, while underway, describing it as a fuel carrier sailing under the Eritrean flag.

Independent vessel databases, however, currently identify a vessel named MTT SIBU as a Malaysian-flagged container ship. The vessel’s identity, flag and type therefore require further confirmation before those details can be treated as independently established.

The reported hijacking comes amid renewed concern that Somali pirate networks could rebuild their operational capabilities after several years of relatively limited attacks on commercial shipping.

The PMPF operation therefore carries significance beyond the individual vessel. It demonstrates Puntland’s capacity to deploy maritime forces against a threat with potentially wider regional and international consequences.

For now, Puntland says the MTT SIBU 1 and its crew have been freed, while PMPF forces continue operations along the Mudug coastline.

WardheerNews