Armed men seize tanker and steer towards Somalia
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Six armed men have seized control of a product tanker in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen and diverted the vessel towards Somalia, raising fresh concern over a resurgence of piracy along one of the world’s most important shipping corridors. The tanker, identified as Sibu 1 and also known by its former name Seamull, was travelling west when it reported that an unauthorised […]…
Six armed men seized control of a product tanker in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen and steered it towards Somalia, raising concerns about a resurgence of piracy in a crucial shipping corridor. The tanker, Sibu 1, was traveling west when it detected an unauthorized vessel approaching, triggering a distress call before the attackers boarded and took control.
The incident occurred about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. Maritime authorities launched an investigation and cautioned other ships to be vigilant and report suspicious activity. The tanker, a 32,238-deadweight-tonne oil product vessel, was built in 2001 and currently sails under the Eritrean flag, although it has changed names and flags throughout its history.
No information on the crew's condition was released. This seizure is a reminder that Somali pirate groups are once again extending their operations far beyond the immediate Somali coastline, a development that has increased concerns among shipping companies, insurers, and naval forces. The Gulf of Aden, which connects the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and Suez Canal, is a critical passage for trade between Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean, with about 12 to 15 percent of global trade by value passing through it.
Written by urgent.news from Arabian Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
