Pole Star Data Shows Hijacked Somalia Tanker Vanished From Tracking for Months Before Seizure
A tanker now held by Somali pirates has a years-long pattern of disappearing from vessel tracking systems for extended periods, according to data from Pole Star Global, adding a new dimension to a piracy wave that has left as many as six vessels in pirate hands. The Tanzanian-flagged tanker Asana, seized off Yemen in mid-July ...
The hijacked tanker Asana, seized off Yemen in mid-July 2026, has been absent from vessel tracking systems since July 17, 2026, around 05:22 UTC, according to data from Pole Star Global. This prolonged absence aligns with the ship's history of gaps in tracking, with the vessel displaying a "Critical" gap rating and experiencing significant tracking gaps of 102, 96, 48, 37, 32, 29, 27, and 24 days across 2024 and 2025.
The tanker has changed hands multiple times over the past decade, with its current owner, Exon Energy Inc, not being sanctioned. However, a previous operator, Russia-based Valkur LLC, is currently subject to French, Monaco, EU, and Swiss sanctions due to its involvement in the Ukraine conflict, despite that sanction period occurring after the company's connection to the Asana ended.
Somali piracy has escalated since early April, with the latest confirmed hijacking of the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship Lutuf off Somalia, which ceased transmitting at around 11:35 UTC on August 17, 2026. The vessel was reportedly captured around 1136 UTC that same day. The increasing piracy activity in the region is highlighted by Pole Star Global data, which reveals that many vessels targeted by pirates have histories of disappearing from tracking systems for extended periods and passing through obscure or sanctioned ownership structures.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.