Armed Men Hijack Oil Tanker EUREKA Off Yemen, Divert Vessel Toward Somali Waters

Yemen’s coast guard said on Saturday that an oil tanker was hijacked off the coast of Shabwa province by a group of unidentified armed men.

According to the coast guard, the attackers boarded the oil products tanker M/T EUREKA, took control of it, and steered it toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of Somali waters.

Officials said the tanker’s location has been identified and authorities are tracking its movement.

Efforts are underway to recover the vessel and ensure the safety of the crew. No details have been shared about the number of crew members or their nationality.

The coast guard, which is linked to Yemen’s internationally recognised government and not the Iran-backed Houthi group, said an investigation into the incident has been launched. No group has claimed responsibility so far.

Ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic shows that EUREKA is a Togolese-flagged oil products tanker. It was last reported at the UAE port of Fujairah in late March.

Attacks in the region appear to be increasing again. Waters off Somalia were once known for frequent piracy, with attacks reaching a peak in 2011.

Those incidents had dropped sharply over the years due to international naval patrols and better security measures by commercial ships.

However, recent data from the European Union naval mission, Operation Atalanta, shows a rise in activity.

The force recorded three incidents in late April, according to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO).

Shipping in the region has also been affected in recent weeks by tensions linked to the US-Israeli conflict involving Iran, which began impacting routes from February 28.

There is no immediate sign that the hijacking of EUREKA is connected to that situation.

The Gulf of Aden remains a key shipping route, and incidents like this continue to pose risks to vessels operating in the area.

References: Reuters, timesofisrael