A pirate action group remained aboard an unnamed chemical/oil tanker hijacked off Yemen as the vessel moved towards Somali waters, according to European Union naval officials.
EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA reported on 19 July 2026 that the tanker was approximately 19 nautical miles from Bereeda, Somalia, and continued towards Somali waters.
The Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean received information about the incident at 06:30 UTC on 17 July. At that time, the vessel was reported 65 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla, Yemen, north of the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor.
MSCIO was informed that a pirate action group had hijacked the vessel and was taking it towards the Horn of Africa.
UK Maritime Trade Operations initially reported that unauthorised personnel had boarded a merchant vessel transiting east through the Gulf of Aden. UKMTO placed the incident 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla.
UKMTO later said military authorities had reported the vessel in Somali territorial waters. The agency subsequently reclassified the incident as a hijacking.
The vessel’s name was not disclosed. EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA said it was investigating the incident and monitoring the ship.
Maritime security company Ambrey reported that a suspected armed pirate action group had boarded the chemical/oil tanker approximately 62 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla. The tanker did not have an armed security team when the incident occurred, according to the company.
A Republic of Korea naval vessel was reportedly heading towards the tanker to provide assistance at the time of the report.
The number and nationalities of the crew members were not immediately known. No information was available on whether anyone had been injured.
Windward said Somali piracy activity had been increasing in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean for several months. The company said at least one pirate action group was active in the region and cited local reports placing the tanker off Puntland.
Vessels operating in the area were advised to remain vigilant and follow BMP-MS guidance, particularly within 150 nautical miles of the Somali coast between Bereeda and Mogadishu.
Authorities also asked vessels to report suspicious activity or relevant information immediately to MSCIO and UKMTO.
