LONDON (SD) – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has voiced increasing concern over the worsening condition of dozens of seafarers being held hostage by Somali pirates, warning that some crew members are suffering from serious medical problems.

The IMO’s regional anti-piracy initiative, formally known as the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment (DCoC/JA), said it had received information from the master of the hijacked tanker Honor 25 (IMO 9109735), which was seized on 24 April.

According to the ship’s captain, all 17 crew members remain alive, but conditions on board have become critical. Five crew members, including the captain, are suffering from serious health conditions. The crew is reportedly surviving on rice alone and has run out of clean drinking water, significantly increasing the risk to their health.

The situation has become even more dangerous due to rivalry among pirate groups operating off the Somali coast. According to the report, a competing pirate group recently attempted to approach the hijacked vessel, prompting the pirates holding Honor 25 to open fire to drive them away, exposing the crew to the risk of being caught in armed violence.

“Behind every act of piracy are innocent seafarers enduring fear, deprivation, uncertainty, and prolonged psychological trauma,” the IMO initiative said in a statement.

The Honor 25 crew includes nationals of Indonesia, Pakistan, India, and Myanmar. The Indonesian government has been negotiating directly with the Somali pirates to secure the vessel’s release. Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono confirmed that negotiations began in May but have so far failed to produce a breakthrough.

Meanwhile, the crews of two other vessels—Sward (IMO 9174244) and MV Eureka (IMO 1022823)—also remain in pirate captivity.

The IMO warned that continued pirate activity off the southern coast of Yemen indicates that pirate groups remain active and are still seeking to capture additional vessels and crews. The organization urged all parties involved—including shipowners, insurers, flag states, and coastal authorities—to take urgent action to secure the hostages’ release.

Maritime security analysts say the resurgence of Somali piracy is likely linked to several factors, including the diversion of international naval resources toward the Red Sea in response to Houthi attacks. That shift has reduced security coverage in parts of the Gulf of Aden, creating opportunities for pirate groups to operate more freely.

Analysts also note that rising fuel prices during recent regional tensions have increased the commercial value of fuel tankers such as Honor 25, making them more attractive targets for piracy.