Somali Forces Free Sanctioned Sibu 1 Tanker | Mariner News

Puntland regional forces have successfully freed the product tanker Sibu 1 from pirates, marking the third vessel recovered by Somali authorities since a resurgence in piracy began in April. The operation underscores ongoing efforts to counter an increased threat in the region, even as questions emerge about the circumstances surrounding such incidents.

Authorities from the Puntland Navy and Puntland Maritime Police Force reported a planned 48-hour operation culminated in the vessel’s release and the arrest of the pirates. However, local news outlet The Daily Somalia reported a violent clash off the coast of Mudug, claiming three fatalities and several injuries, though it did not specify casualties among pirates or crew.

The Sibu 1, a 32,238 dwt product tanker built in 2001, also known as Seamul, was seized on August 20 off the coast of Yemen, approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) received information that six individuals boarded the vessel and directed it towards the Somali coast. The crew of 20, comprising 16 Indian and four Arab nationals, reportedly transmitted a distress message via AIS, reading “PRIRATE ONBOARD HEL” [sic], as the seizure unfolded.

Notably, the Sibu 1 has a history of regulatory scrutiny. The vessel was sanctioned by the United States in December 2025 as part of an effort targeting an Egyptian businessman, with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) asserting his companies were associated with multiple shadow fleet vessels. This connection introduces a layer of complexity to the incident, suggesting potential heightened risk for vessels operating outside mainstream regulatory and insurance frameworks within piracy-prone waters.

With the Sibu 1’s liberation, three vessels remain under pirate control from the six seized between April and August this year.