Skip to content
Bramble

World

Puntland says it freed tanker MT Honour 25; five crew killed by pirates

Puntland forces retook the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour 25, held by pirates since April. Puntland officials say pirates killed five crew before the operation; the first wire report did not mention deaths.

8 outlets · 2L · 4C · 2R First reported Account updated

Updated (version 3). New coverage since the last version from Arab News, Geo News, Gulf News, The Independent.

Image: The Straits Times
Image: South China Morning Post
Image: Al Jazeera
Image: Geo News
Image: The Independent
Image: Arab News
Image: Gulf News

1 / 7

The story, neutrally told

Security forces from Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region rescued the Palau-flagged tanker MT Honour 25, which pirates seized on April 21. Puntland's information ministry said the operation freed the ship and captured 16 pirates. The ministry said pirates killed five crew before the operation began: three from Pakistan, one from Myanmar and one from India.

Four other crew, three Pakistanis and one Indian, were injured. The deaths appear to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade. Authorities have not said how the crew were killed or how the pirates took control. Puntland police said the tanker carried 18,500 barrels of oil.

The rescue followed the freeing of the US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1 last week, after which 28 of 41 arrested pirates escaped during transfer to jail and several Puntland security officials accused local police of complicity. Deputy Information Minister Bile Qabowsade told the BBC that Puntland forces did not help pirates escape. Puntland's maritime police also said late Tuesday that it had retaken the tanker MT Eureka after its hijackers fled. The Independent says that makes five of the six ships held in late August now freed.

Experts attribute the resurgence in piracy partly to effects of the Iran war, including higher oil prices.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Leads with the killing of five crew as a significant first in over a decade, placing it in the context of resurgent piracy.
Emphasis
Deaths, the Iran war link, the Sibu 1 escapes (Al Jazeera) and the Eureka rescue (Independent).
Leaves out or plays down
Al Jazeera does not mention the Eureka rescue; the Independent omits the Sibu 1 escapes. Neither carries Qabowsade's denial.
For example
“Pirates have killed five crew members on board a Palau-flagged oil tanker off the coast of Somalia before security forces rescued the ship” — Al Jazeera
“The two rescues bring the total to five out of the six ships held by pirates off the Somali coast as of late August that have now been freed.” — The Independent

Centre4 outlets

Framing
Reuters copy (SCMP) and BBC's own report both lead with the killings, attributed to Puntland officials.
Emphasis
BBC gives crew nationalities, location, and the deputy minister's denial; SCMP gives Sibu 1 details and the other held tankers.
Leaves out or plays down
BBC does not mention the Iran war context in detail or the Sibu 1 escape figures; SCMP omits the Eureka rescue and the denial.
For example
“Other hijacked tankers - MT Eureka, and MT Asana - were still being held by pirates” — South China Morning Post
“Five crew members of an oil tanker seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia were killed before local security forces retook the vessel” — BBC News

Right2 outlets

Framing
Short Reuters wire report, carried by The Straits Times, of the rescue based on Puntland state television, with no mention of deaths.
Emphasis
The rescue, the detained pirates, and the historical cost of Somali piracy.
Leaves out or plays down
No deaths, injuries or casualty details, which came in later reports.
For example
“Puntland's state television channel reported on Tuesday” — The Straits Times
“Puntland officials did not respond to requests for comment.” — The Straits Times