Tanker Fires Warning Shots After Being Approached By Six Boats Off Yemen

A tanker sailing through a key shipping route south of Yemen fired warning shots after being approached by six small boats.

The incident took place about 50 nautical miles (93 km) south of Aden as the tanker was travelling east through the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), according to UKMTO.

UKMTO said six small boats approached the tanker from its starboard side. One of the boats came within five cables of the vessel, leading the armed security team (AST) on board to fire warning shots.

The other five boats remained about one nautical mile away. Authorities are investigating the incident.

British maritime security firm Ambrey later said Automatic Identification System (AIS) data showed the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker took evasive action after the skiffs approached from its starboard side.

According to Ambrey, one skiff came very close to the tanker before the vessel’s armed security team fired warning shots. The boats then stopped following the tanker, allowing it to continue its voyage without further incident.

No group has claimed responsibility for the approach, and UKMTO has not linked the incident to any armed group.

UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to remain alert and report any suspicious activity immediately.

Tensions remain high across the region. Iran announced over the weekend that the Strait of Hormuz was closed to shipping traffic, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly opened fire on two vessels on Monday.

The developments have raised concerns that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement could intensify attacks on commercial shipping in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

In June, the Houthis announced what they described as a “complete and total ban” on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, warning that Israeli-linked vessels would be targeted as part of their campaign backing Iran and the Palestinians.

The Bab al-Mandab Strait, which separates Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea, connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and serves as the southern entrance to the Suez Canal.

About 10% of global seaborne trade passes through the waterway, along with an estimated 6.2 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products each day. It also provides Gulf producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, with an alternative export route that can bypass the Strait of Hormuz during periods of increased regional tension.

Commercial ships have faced repeated attacks and security incidents in the area since late 2023. The Houthis have launched missile and drone attacks on merchant vessels transiting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while UKMTO has reported several incidents involving armed assailants and suspicious small boats approaching commercial ships off Yemen.

The tanker was able to continue its voyage after the boats moved away. Authorities are investigating the incident, and UKMTO has again urged ships operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

References: Reuters, UKMTO