Suspected Somali pirates seize tanker near Yemen amid wave of hijackings

Yemen's Coast Guard is attempting to recover the oil tanker "M/T Eureka," which was hijacked off the southeastern Shabwa province and is now heading towards Somalia. The seizure occurred as armed assailants boarded and took control of the vessel, steering it towards the Gulf of Aden. This incident is the latest in a recent surge of pirate activity near Somalia, which officials attribute to naval forces being distracted by the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and diverted maritime routes due to the war in Iran. The UKMTO has raised the piracy threat level to "substantial" along the Somali coast. Yemen's Coast Guard is collaborating with international partners to recover the tanker and ensure crew safety, though its capabilities are limited by the country's economic situation.

Somali pirates have hijacked the oil tanker MT Eureka off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, near the port of Qana. The tanker, sailing under the flag of Togo, was reportedly overrun by gunmen early this morning and is now heading towards Somalia. This incident marks the second oil tanker hijacking in the region within ten days, following the capture of the Honor 25 on April 22nd. Security officials from the Puntland region confirmed the pirates departed from a coastal area near Qandala. The MT Eureka is expected to anchor in Somali waters soon. Separately, armed individuals approached a bulk carrier near Al-Mukala, Yemen.

Suspected pirates have reportedly hijacked the cargo vessel Sward off the coast of Somalia, steering it towards the Somali coastline. The incident, which occurred on Monday, involved nine armed individuals boarding the ship carrying cement from Suez, Egypt, to Mombasa, Kenya. The Sward, flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis, has a 15-person crew consisting of two Indian nationals and 13 Syrians. This is the second such hijacking off Somalia in less than a week. The attacks are occurring amidst existing maritime route disruptions caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz. Pirate activity has resurfaced in the region following a decline in anti-piracy patrols and a shift in resources to counter Houthi rebel threats.

Three vessels have been hijacked off the coast of Somalia in the past week, sparking concerns about a resurgence in piracy. The incidents, involving the merchant vessel Sward and a dhow on April 26th and 25th respectively, and the motor tanker Honour 25 on April 21st, are all reported as ongoing. These hijackings occur as global shipping faces existing disruptions in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. The Sward, a cement carrier with 17 crew members, was captured approximately six nautical miles from the Somali port town of Garacad. Maritime authorities are advising vessels in the region to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly within 150 nautical miles of the Somali coast between Mogadishu and Hafun.

Maritime authorities have raised the threat level off the Somali coast to "substantial" following the seizure of another cargo ship on Sunday. This incident, involving "unauthorised persons" redirecting the vessel to Somali territorial waters, is the latest in a string of suspected piracy attacks. In the past week, at least four vessels, including a fishing boat and an oil tanker, have been targeted. This resurgence of piracy, which had largely disappeared from the region, is attributed to increased Pirate Action Group activity, with weather conditions also being conducive to such operations. A separate hijacking off northern Somalia on April 21st and the seizure of the oil tanker Honour 25 with 17 crew on April 22nd were also reported.