Tanker Hijacked in Gulf of Aden by Somali Pirates

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.