The ship, which was sailing under the Comoros flag and carrying weapons destined for the Somali government, was first seized off the coast of Puntland (Bareeda) in early July 2025 after a mechanical failure and political controversy arose over its cargo.
After official negotiations between Puntland and the Turkish government, the vessel was formally released on August 4, 2025. However, the ship was then forced to divert unexpectedly towards Djibouti instead of proceeding to its intended destination, Mogadishu, according to reports by AllAfrica and Garowe Online.
A separate report by Radio Dalsan (19 August 2025) stated that the MV Sea World diverted to Djibouti after being hit by monsoon rains, which prevented the vessel from continuing its voyage. Radio Dalsan also denied widespread social media claims that the ship had already docked in Mogadishu.
Meanwhile, Somali media outlet Hiiraan.net confirmed that the vessel is currently docked at Djibouti port after facing severe weather conditions and maritime challenges, and has not reached Mogadishu.
For its part, Puntland strongly refuted claims from the federal government, insisting that the ship was carrying only military equipment—no commercial goods—a position the Puntland authorities said had been established through their investigation.
