UKMTO says six gunmen seize tanker off Yemen, divert it to Somalia
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Six armed people boarded the Seamull tanker 136 nautical miles (252 km) east of Yemen’s Al Mukalla and took control of the vessel, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said on Thursday. The group redirected the tanker toward Somalia, and authorities are investigating while vessels have been advised to transit with caution. The boarding follows a resurgence in Somali piracy since April, with five cargo ships currently held hostage.
Key Facts
- The Seamull tanker broadcast a distress call after being approached by an unauthorised vessel while travelling westwards in the Gulf of Aden.
- UKMTO provided no further details and did not say whether the tanker or its crew were safe.
- The Gulf of Aden feeds into the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, through which about 30 percent of the world’s container traffic passes each year.
- Between 2005 and 2012, Somali pirates were blamed for more than 1,000 attacks and about $400 million in ransom payments.
The Seizure
The UKMTO centre received a report of an incident 136 nautical miles (252 km) east of Yemen’s Al Mukalla. The Seamull tanker, also known as SIBU 1, broadcast a distress call after being approached by an unauthorised vessel while travelling westwards in the Gulf of Aden. The tanker was boarded by six armed people who took control and redirected it toward Somalia. Authorities are investigating, and vessels were advised to transit with caution and report suspicious activity to UKMTO. UKMTO provided no further details on whether the tanker or its crew were safe.
Piracy Resurgence
Somali piracy was rampant in the 2000s, peaked in 2011, and was curbed by international naval deployments and new security measures for commercial shipping. Since April, piracy has resurged, with five cargo ships currently held hostage, including an oil tanker seized in July about 26 nautical miles (48 km) off Yemen’s Hadramout province. Between 2005 and 2012, Somali pirates were blamed for more than 1,000 attacks worth approximately $400 million in ransom payments. The hijackings prompted an international crackdown that all but ended hijackings in 2013.
Gulf of Aden Shipping
The Gulf of Aden feeds into the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the fastest maritime link between Asia and Europe. Roughly 12 to 15 percent of global trade by value passes through the canal each year. About 30 percent of the world’s container traffic also passes through the canal each year. The seizure occurred in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
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UKMTO says six gunmen seize tanker off Yemen, divert it to Somalia
