Trending 
The vessel was hijacked on April 26 by armed men off the Somali coast while carrying a crew of 15 Syrian and two Indian nationals.
The pirates subsequently used the vessel as a mothership to seize at least two Iranian fishing boats and the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel MV Lutuf.
A Puntland security source told AFP that the MV Sward was released near Garacad, a port in Puntland, a semi-autonomous territory in north-eastern Somalia.
“They have released the SWARD near Garacad,” the source said.
He added that the crew remained on board while the pirates disembarked and travelled into Garacad in several vehicles.
“The crew are still on board but the pirates made their way to the shore and entered multiple vehicles, then entered” Garacad, he said.
“They received money to release the ship,” the source added, without disclosing the amount of the ransom.
Another Puntland security source said vehicles had been waiting for the pirates on shore, suggesting that they may have remained in contact with their network on land while operating at sea.
Two other Puntland security sources reportedly confirmed the account to AFP.
Piracy resurges off Somalia
The release follows a resurgence in piracy in the Gulf of Aden and along Somalia’s coastline.
Figures from the International Maritime Organization show that at least 15 piracy attacks have been recorded off Somalia this year, the highest number since 2013.
The pirates have also been linked to the hijacking of other vessels in recent months.
Puntland security sources told AFP at the end of August that a $2.5 million ransom had reportedly been paid to secure the release of the MV Lutuf, while another $40,000 was allegedly paid for the release of the two Iranian fishing vessels.
However, Somalia’s Government gave a different account, saying the MV Lutuf was freed following “sustained military pressure” from the Turkish Navy and Somali armed forces.
According to the government, four boats used by the pirates were destroyed during the operation and 14 suspected pirates were killed.
Four vessels still held
Four commercial vessels are currently being held by Somali pirates off the Somali coast, according to security sources.
They are the tankers Honour 25, Eureka, Asana and Seamull.
The United States sanctioned the Seamull in December last year, identifying it as part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” allegedly involved in exporting Iranian oil through deceptive shipping practices.
The latest release of the MV Sward and its crew could ease concerns over the fate of the hostages, but the continued seizure of commercial vessels highlights the renewed threat posed by piracy in waters around Somalia.
