Pirates Seize Palau-Flagged Tanker MT Honour 25 Off Somalia With Indonesian Captain Aboard
Captain Ashari Samadikun sent a voice note warning of an attack on April 21 before the vessel was seized. His wife Shanty Shanaya received a video call three days later showing him surrounded by heavily armed pirates. The MT Honour 25 was traveling from Oman to Somalia.
citizen.co.zaCaptain Ashari Samadikun sent a voice note to his wife on April 21 saying he was about to be attacked. South China Morning Post reported that the 33-year-old was captaining the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25 tanker carrying fuel from Oman to Somalia when the vessel was hijacked. He believed the group approaching the ship were pirates.
Shanty Shanaya, 26, who lives in Gowa Regency in South Sulawesi, received no reply after messaging him back. His phone appeared to be switched off. She waited three days before receiving a video call from her husband.
During the call Captain Ashari Samadikun was sitting on the ship surrounded by heavily armed pirates. He told her that he was OK and that the crew were being allowed to eat and pray. The couple have two daughters aged six and four.
Key Facts
Story Timeline
3 events- 2026-04-21
Captain Ashari Samadikun sends voice note to wife stating “I’m about to be attacked.”
1 sourceSouth China Morning Post - 2026-04-21
MT Honour 25 hijacked while carrying fuel from Oman to Somalia; captain believes attackers are pirates.
1 sourceSouth China Morning Post - 2026-04-24
Shanty Shanaya receives video call from husband showing him surrounded by heavily armed pirates.
1 sourceSouth China Morning Post
Potential Impact
- 01
Crew of MT Honour 25 remains under pirate control with limited communication to families.
- 02
Shanty Shanaya experienced three days without contact from her husband following the initial warning.
- 03
Route from Oman to Somalia faces renewed piracy risk as noted in the incident timing.
Transparency Panel
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