Suspected Somali pirates seize tanker near Yemen amid wave of hijackings

Armed assailants boarded the chemical tanker Asana off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and are believed to be in control of the vessel, according to maritime security sources. The incident, which occurred in one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, marks the latest in a fast-growing wave of piracy in the region, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Coverage comparison

Both Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post reported the seizure, though with some differences in detail. Al Jazeera identified the tanker as the Astana and said the Yemeni coastguard reported it was seized about 26 nautical miles (48km) off Hadramawt province. The South China Morning Post referred to the vessel as the Asana, a chemical tanker, and cited ship tracking data showing it had listed the Somali port of Bosaso as its next destination. Both outlets reported that the British navy agency UKMTO said a vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel while transiting east in the Gulf of Aden, 65 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Al Mukalla port.

Key claims

  • Armed assailants boarded the chemical tanker Asana off the southern coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. The incident was reported by both Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post.
  • The seizure appeared to be related to Somali piracy rather than Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia, according to one maritime security source cited by the South China Morning Post. This assessment was not confirmed by other sources in the available reporting.
  • The tanker had listed the Somali port of Bosaso as its next destination, as shown by ship tracking data, the South China Morning Post reported.
  • The Yemeni coastguard said the vessel — referred to as the Astana — was seized about 26 nautical miles off Hadramawt province, according to Al Jazeera.
  • Naval vessels, including a Yemeni coastguard boat, were reported heading towards the ship, while aircraft flew reconnaissance sorties, Al Jazeera reported.
  • Efforts were under way to assist the tanker and determine the circumstances of what happened, an official with the European Union’s Aspides naval mission told the South China Morning Post.
  • The attack follows a marked resurgence in Somali piracy, Al Jazeera reported. The shipping industry formally lifted its “high risk” designation for the Indian Ocean in 2023, according to Al Jazeera.
The UKMTO urged vessels in the area to exercise caution and report suspicious activity, adding that the incident remained under investigation. Early reports indicated a single person had been spotted near the vessel’s bridge and the tanker was moving slowly southeast towards Somalia, Al Jazeera reported. Yemeni authorities said they were coordinating with international partners and maritime agencies to verify the tanker’s condition and track its movements.

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, along with about 30 percent of the world’s container traffic, according to Al Jazeera.