The recent hijacking of the oil tanker “M/T Eureka” by Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen, followed by their escalation of the ransom demand to $3 million, has sparked intense renewed demands for strict legal regulations over the employment and safety conditions of Egyptian sailors working aboard foreign vessels.
The vessel, which was hijacked in early May near Yemen’s Shabwa governorate by armed Somali pirates, was carrying a total of 12 crew members—eight Egyptians and four Indians. More than 45 days have passed since the hijacking, and the ship has since been moved toward the Somali coast.
According to a statement released Wednesday by the families of the captive sailors, an initial agreement had been reached between the shipowners and the pirates for a $2 million ransom payment. However, delays in transferring the agreed amount angered the captors, prompting them to cancel the initial arrangement and raise their demand to $3 million. This development has further complicated negotiation efforts.
The families revealed that the sailors are currently enduring deplorable humanitarian conditions, facing severe shortages of drinking water and adequate food. In response, relatives have launched a social media solidarity campaign under the hashtag “Save the Sailors.” Amira Abu Saada, the wife of detained sailor Mohamed Radi El-Mahsab, expressed her deep anxiety, noting that communication with her husband has been completely cut off; her last contact with him was before the Eid holiday more than three weeks ago.
Captain El-Sayed El-Shazly, head of Egypt’s Maritime Officers Syndicate, stated that Egypt’s Foreign Ministry and the Maritime Safety Authority are pursuing high-level diplomatic contacts to secure the sailors’ release. However, he firmly rejected any form of military rescue intervention, warning that force would pose a catastrophic threat to the hostages’ lives and safety.
Similarly, Somalia’s Ambassador to Egypt, Ali Abdi Aware, confirmed that the Federal Government of Somalia is closely monitoring the situation. He assured that Mogadishu is maintaining active coordination with all relevant parties at multiple levels to ensure the safe release of the crew members.
This crisis highlights a renewed threat looming over international maritime transport. Somali piracy, which peaked around the Horn of Africa in 2008 and had significantly declined in recent years, has seen a resurgence since late 2023. This resurgence is primarily driven by a shift in international naval resources toward ongoing conflicts in the Red Sea, creating a security vacuum that pirate groups are actively exploiting.
In light of these events, Captain El-Shazly stressed the urgent need to overhaul and regulate the employment of Egyptian sailors abroad. Experts and maritime officials are increasingly calling for stricter standards and oversight, particularly to bar Egyptian seafarers from serving on foreign vessels that fail to comply with international safety regulations or operate in high-risk zones without adequate protection.
