Puntland has refused to release a cargo ship carrying Turkish military equipment, rejecting repeated demands from Somalia’s federal government and Turkey. The ship, Sea World, was intercepted off the coast of Bareeda on July 18, and is currently being held at a Puntland port.

According to Puntland, the vessel was loitering suspiciously for two days near the coastline without sending a required distress call. Local fishermen in the northeastern town of Bareeda first noticed the ship, and after a group of young locals climbed aboard, Puntland coastguards were alerted and took control of the vessel.

Puntland authorities said they acted based on intelligence and concerns about the ship’s cargo and ownership. The vessel, built in 1977 and weighing 13,000 deadweight tons, is flagged in Comoros. Maritime tracking service Equasis lists its owner and manager as unknown.

After seizing the vessel, Puntland was contacted by Somali traders who claimed ownership of part of the cargo. The ship was then brought to port for further investigation.

Images shared on social media show various military vehicles and equipment onboard, including trucks and weapons. Puntland also raised concerns that some small arms may have already been looted from the ship, as images surfaced showing civilians handling rifles, pistols, and machine guns believed to be taken from the vessel.

Sea World, a cargo vessel transporting arms from Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Turkey to @TheVillaSomalia, has docked at the Port of Bossaso, where unloading operations are expected to commence shortly.
…
Markabkii Sea World ee hubka u siday Villa Somalia oo hadda ku soo xirtay… pic.twitter.com/XSyGCZutsY

— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) July 19, 2025

Puntland said its investigation aims to confirm who legally owns the military cargo and to prevent weapons from ending up in the wrong hands.

In response, the federal government in Mogadishu issued a statement on July 23, five days after the ship was seized. It strongly condemned the move, calling it “hijacking” and an “unlawful operation.”

Somalia demanded the “immediate and unconditional” release of the Sea World, saying the seizure violated the provisional constitution and undermined national sovereignty.

Somalia’s Ministry of Information stated that the cargo was legally authorised under a bilateral agreement between Somalia and Turkey. According to the ministry, the military equipment was headed for TURKSOM, Turkey’s military training base in Mogadishu, and included commercial goods owned by Somali traders.

The federal government accused individuals affiliated with Puntland State of illegally detaining the vessel and claimed that the move could destabilise the country. It also warned that lawful security actions would be taken to protect Somalia’s waters and sovereignty.

Somali officials further labeled Puntland’s actions as piracy, while Puntland insists it is carrying out a legal investigation. Puntland also pointed out that the ship stayed in a zone known for anti-terror operations, which increased the risks to the region’s security.

Reference: Bloomberg

Source: www.marineinsight.com