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Tanker Hijacked in Gulf of Aden by Somali Pirates
18 Jul
Summary
- A chemical tanker named Asana was boarded by unauthorized personnel.
- Yemen's coast guard reported the vessel was captured by Somali pirates.
- A South Korean navy vessel is en route to provide assistance.
A chemical tanker, the Asana, was boarded by unidentified individuals while transiting the Gulf of Aden on Friday, July 18th, 2026. The incident occurred 65 nautical miles south of Mukalla, a significant city on Yemen's southern coast. Yemen's coast guard has identified the perpetrators as Somali pirates, reporting that the Tanzania-flagged vessel is now heading southeast towards Somalia.
The lack of an armed security team aboard the Asana was noted by maritime security firm Ambrey. In response to the hijacking, a South Korean navy vessel has been dispatched and is currently en route to the tanker to offer assistance. The EU's anti-piracy naval mission, MSCIO, is actively investigating the situation and monitoring the vessel's movements.
