Another Tanker Seized by Pirates Near Yemen's Coast
WHO:
AP News - The British military reported the boarding of a chemical tanker by an armed group.
AP News - Somali pirates are believed to be involved in the incident.
AP News - Ambrey, a British maritime security firm, provided information regarding the incident.
WHAT:
BBC News - This is the second hijacking of a vessel off the coast of Yemen since May, when the MT Eureka was seized near the port of Qana.
BBC News - Two other ships were boarded by pirates in the Indian Ocean in April.
AP News - The oil tanker ASANA was hijacked by armed pirates approximately 26 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's Hadramout province.
AP News - The hijacked tanker is reportedly moving slowly in a southeasterly direction toward Somalia.
AP News - Preliminary aerial reconnaissance reports indicate that heavily armed guards have taken control of the ship, with at least one individual observed near the vessel's bridge.
AP News - A chemical tanker was boarded by unauthorized personnel while transiting in the Gulf of Aden.
AP News - The tanker issued a distress call while heading westbound.
AP News - The Tanzania-flagged oil and chemical tanker Asana was en route to Bosaso, Somalia.
AP News - Suspected pirates attacked a vessel 76 nautical miles (140 kilometers) south of Balhaf on July 1, causing minor damage to the ship’s bridge.
WHERE:
AP News - The hijacking occurred roughly 26 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's Hadramout province.
AP News - The incident occurred off the coast of Yemen, specifically south of al-Mukalla province.
AP News - The attack on the vessel on July 1 took place 76 nautical miles south of the port town of Balhaf in southeastern Yemen.
AP News - The tanker was in the Gulf of Aden.
WHEN:
AP News - The tanker was boarded on a Friday, with the specific date not provided.
AP News - The attack on the vessel occurred on July 1.
WHY:
AP News - The resurgence of piracy in the region is linked to the ongoing civil war in Yemen, which has left the country impoverished and vulnerable.
HOW:
AP News - A combined military response is currently tracking the ship's movements, including a Yemeni Coast Guard patrol boat and several international naval units.
AP News - The Yemeni Coast Guard's operations center established contact with international maritime coalitions to verify the crew's condition and secure the area following the hijacking.
AP News - The tanker did not have an armed security team on board at the time of the boarding.
AP News - A Korean naval vessel was dispatched to assist the tanker following the distress call.
(UPDATED July 18, 2026 16:14 UTC)
A vessel has been hijacked off the coast of Yemen, marking the second such incident since May when the MT Eureka was seized near the port of Qana. In addition, two other ships were boarded by pirates in the Indian Ocean back in April. A combined military response is actively tracking the ship's movements, involving a Yemeni Coast Guard patrol boat and several international naval units.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 07:26 UTC)
An oil tanker named ASANA has been hijacked by armed pirates about 26 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen's Hadramout province, and it is reportedly moving slowly in a southeasterly direction toward Somalia. Preliminary aerial reconnaissance indicates that heavily armed guards have taken control of the vessel, with at least one individual seen near the bridge. In response to the hijacking, the Yemeni Coast Guard's operations center has reached out to international maritime coalitions to verify the crew's condition and secure the area.
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(UPDATED July 18, 2026 01:25 UTC)
The British military has reported that an armed group has boarded a chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden, with Somali pirates believed to be involved in the incident. The Tanzania-flagged oil and chemical tanker Asana was en route to Bosaso, Somalia, when it issued a distress call while heading westbound, and a Korean naval vessel has since been dispatched to assist. This resurgence of piracy in the region is linked to the ongoing civil war in Yemen, which has left the country impoverished and vulnerable, and the tanker did not have an armed security team on board at the time of the boarding.