Azerbaijan has lodged a formal protest with Eritrea following the detention of three Azerbaijani-flagged vessels and their crews, who have been held since November 2024. The ships, CMS Pahlian, CMS İgid, and CMS-3, were detained on November 7 after entering Eritrean waters while navigating toward Abu Dhabi via the Suez Canal, due to poor weather conditions.
The vessels, operated by the Azerbaijani branch of Caspian Marine Services B.V., were carrying 18 crew members, all Azerbaijani citizens. According to Ayxan Hajizada, a spokesperson for Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, the vessels made contact with Eritrean authorities but failed to provide all necessary details.
In response, Azerbaijan sent a diplomatic note to Eritrea through its embassies in Ethiopia and Russia, urging the release of the ships and crew.
