Daijiworld Media Network - Al Mukalla
Al Mukalla, Aug 20: A tanker was seized by six armed men in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen on Thursday and diverted towards Somalia, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
UKMTO said it received a report of an incident about 136 nautical miles (252 km) east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. The tanker, identified as Seamull, also known as SIBU 1, had reportedly issued a distress call after an unauthorised vessel approached it while it was sailing westwards through the Gulf of Aden.
In an update, UKMTO confirmed that six armed persons had boarded the tanker and taken control of the vessel, subsequently redirecting it towards Somalia. Authorities are investigating the incident, while vessels operating in the region have been advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
UKMTO has not released details about the identity of the attackers or provided information on the condition of the tanker and its crew.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's major shipping routes. The waterway connects the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and provides access to the Suez Canal, an important maritime route linking Asia and Europe.
The seizure comes amid a renewed resurgence in piracy off the Somali coast. Piracy had declined sharply following an international naval crackdown and improved security measures after reaching a peak in 2011. However, a series of recent hijackings and attempted attacks has renewed concerns over the safety of commercial vessels operating around the Horn of Africa.
The latest incident follows other recent hijackings in the region. A tanker was seized off Yemen in July and taken towards Somalia, while another vessel was reportedly hijacked off Somalia earlier this week. The developments have highlighted growing concerns among shipping and maritime security authorities over the ability of armed groups to operate across the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.
Somali piracy was at its height between 2005 and 2012, when pirates were blamed for more than 1,000 attacks and ransom payments of around $400 million. International naval patrols, armed security teams aboard commercial vessels and other measures subsequently brought the number of successful hijackings down dramatically.
The current resurgence is being linked by analysts to the broader security situation in the Red Sea and surrounding waters. Naval forces have been stretched by ongoing regional conflicts, while some commercial vessels have altered their routes or moved closer to areas where Somali pirate groups have historically operated.
The renewed threat has also come as shipping companies continue to deal with security risks around the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime authorities have therefore urged vessels operating in the region to maintain heightened vigilance and promptly report suspicious approaches or activities.
The latest seizure of the SIBU 1 adds to concerns that Somali pirate groups may once again be exploiting gaps in maritime security to target commercial shipping in the strategically important waters between Yemen and Somalia.