In brief
In a late‑Friday attack, a tanker named MT Asana sailing eastward off Yemen was hijacked by a group of suspected Somali pirates. The UK Marine Safety Organisation confirmed the boarding, while Puntland authorities identified the attackers as local gunmen. This incident follows a May hijacking and points to a renewed threat to shipping lanes near Yemen, poorly protected compared to the EU‑patrolled Indian Ocean. Maritime security officials warn over‑sea vessels to exercise heightened caution in the region.
Somali pirates seize tanker in Gulf of Aden
A tactical assault in the Gulf of Aden turned a Tanzanian‑flagged tanker, MT Asana, into a casualty of piracy. UKMTO reports that the vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel while she sailed east of Yemen, with neighbouring ships advised to proceed with caution.
Puntland security officials trace the hijackers to the clan‑dominated region, describing a crew of seven gunmen who departed from near Garacad before crossing 65 nautical miles of open sea. They seized the tanker just before it was bound for Bosaso Port, claiming territorial control and exploiting the gulf’s light anti‑piracy presence.
This seizure is the second in the area within three months, following a May attack on MT Eureka off Qana. Four earlier attempts collapsed in April, but the pattern suggests piracy is gaining a foothold amid reduced naval patrols compared to the EU‑controlled Indian Ocean. Maritime experts call for renewed guardian presence and coordinated security measures from international navies and commercial shipping companies.
