Pirates board and damage tanker south of Yemen

A tanker was boarded by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden approximately 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen on Tuesday in the latest attack on merchant shipping.

The pirate action group, comprising four individuals armed with RPGs and other weapons, approached the vessel in a small boat. Overtaken, the crew stopped the vessel and retreated to the ship’s citadel, issuing a distress call and awaiting assistance. The pirates subsequently left the vessel, and when the crew emerged from the citadel to inspect their ship, they found the bridge and several adjacent compartments had sustained damage. All crew were reported safe.

The small craft remained active in the area after leaving the vessel, raising concerns that it could pose a threat to other shipping. Just over two hours later, UKMTO issued a second advisory after the master of a tanker reported a suspicious approach roughly 85 nautical miles south of Balhaf. A small craft with four persons onboard approached to within about two nautical miles off its port quarter before turning away and proceeding south. The crew was reported safe, and the vessel continued its voyage.

UKMTO raised its regional threat assessment to “severe” in late April, reflecting rapid deterioration in the maritime security environment, with two distinct pirate action groups assessed as behind the recent spate of attacks.

UKMTO urged all vessels transiting the area to register with the organisation and maintain heightened vigilance.