Somali pirates seize tanker off Yemen and steer it towards Puntland

Somali pirates seize tanker off Yemen and steer it towards Puntland
Sam Chambers July 20, 2026 https://splash247.com/somali-pirates-seize-tanker-off-yemen-and-steer-it...

Suspected Somali pirates have hijacked the Tanzanian-flagged tanker Asana off Yemen and taken the vessel towards the northeastern coast of Somalia.

The 1992-built chemical tanker was seized on Friday after departing Mukalla, according to the Yemeni Coast Guard and regional security sources. Seven armed pirates are believed to have boarded the ship before assuming control.

UK Maritime Trade Operations initially reported that unauthorised personnel had boarded a merchant vessel around 65 nautical miles south of Mukalla. The Yemeni Coast Guard subsequently placed the attack approximately 26 nautical miles off Hadramout province.

The Asana issued a distress call during the incident and did not have an armed security team aboard, according to maritime security company Ambrey. A South Korean naval vessel was dispatched in response, although no details of any intervention have been released.

The tanker was later tracked moving slowly across the Gulf of Aden, at one stage making around two knots and broadcasting Bosaso as its destination.

Local officials said on Sunday that the vessel had been moved to waters off Caluula in Puntland’s Bari region, suggesting the pirates had successfully completed the long crossing from Yemen.

The number and nationalities of the crew remain unknown, while there has been no confirmed information about injuries. Neither Puntland’s authorities nor the ship’s owner or manager has issued a public statement.

The seizure adds to growing evidence of a sustained revival in Somali piracy across the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.

A UKMTO-linked maritime advisory issued in May warned that piracy activity remained elevated, with at least one active pirate action group operating in the region. Several recent approaches have involved multiple skiffs, weapons and attempts to board merchant vessels.