No fuel? Shucks . . . .

one option

Hey Seals! Latch a 30-ft piece of small high-test strength steel cable, or even a 12mm (1/2-inch] nylon cord around the base of the swivel for the lifeboats propeller. Attach it so it is not easy to remove. Tie it to a longer strong piece of tow rope, and attach this long tow rope to a small navy vessel or a ship. Slowly "drift" the lifeboat where ever you want. To make this more challenging to remove put a small weight on the line.

Tow the thing where ever you want. I'd head for Reunion, or some friendly outpost.

option two.
loud music.
Latch on to the lifeboat's massive bow cleat with a steel slip fastener that locks on it self. Very hard to remove. Loud music, or gentle load water music sounds are just for distractions. Use moonlight unless starlight optical devices can be used. Late in the lunar month for that. Use the powerful spotlights from the naval ships at a sufficient distance to be safe. Light blind any pirate who has night adapted vision.

If the strong bow cleat is engaged, one can take the boat where ever wanted, including hoisting it out of the water and dangling it until hauled to deck.

Promise the pirates safe passage after the Captain is released.

Don't kill them if they want passage. Jusf make sure they are safely transported to jail, and justice provided.

Any submarines in the area?
with a bow cleat tow you can take the lifeboat any where.

It might take four or five seals to swim and attach a large enough steel slip fastner to attach to a real boat lifting cable, like 1/2 inch high-test cable.