Oil tanker hijacked off Yemen coast and redirected toward Somalia

May 5 ------ Yemen’s Coast Guard stated that the oil tanker M/T EUREKA had been hijacked off the coast of Shabwa province by unidentified armed men who boarded the vessel, took control of it and redirected it toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of Somali waters.

Prior to this, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a suspicious approach involving a green-hulled skiff and a white fishing vessel in the same area. As reported, the coast guard later confirmed that the tanker’s location had been identified and that efforts were underway to track it, take appropriate measures to recover the vessel, and ensure the safety of its crew.

The incident comes just one day after UKMTO reported another case in the vicinity, in which a bulk carrier was approached by a skiff with a black hull carrying seven armed individuals. This marks the second oil tanker hijacking in the region within 10 days, following the seizure of Honor 25 by Somali pirates on 22 April.

That vessel was reportedly carrying 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu. Somali authorities and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), which conducts anti-piracy operations in Somali waters, have yet to issue a statement on the latest incident.

Maritime piracy off Somalia, which had declined significantly since 2011, has increased again since late 2023. Analysts link the resurgence to heightened instability in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, where Houthi attacks on commercial shipping have diverted international naval resources, creating an opportunity for armed groups along the Somali coast to resume activity.

Source: safety4sea.com