An Eritrean-flagged oil products tanker was hijacked by six armed pirates on Thursday approximately 136 nautical miles east of al-Mukalla, Yemen, according to a Somali maritime security official. The vessel, identified as the M.T. Sibu 1, was directed toward Somalia’s Puntland coast. The ship is managed by a UAE-based company and was previously sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly being part of an Iranian “shadow fleet” used to transport petroleum products in circumvention of U.S. sanctions. The tanker carried 20 crew members of various nationalities, including 16 Indians, one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Iraqi.
This hijacking represents the latest in an escalating pattern of piracy incidents in the region. The seizure of the Sibu 1 marks the sixth commercial vessel captured by Somali pirates since April 21, when the tanker Honor 25 was taken. The other vessels seized were the Sward, the Eureka, the Asana, and the Lutuf, which was captured three days prior to the Sibu 1. Recent attacks have extended farther from Somalia’s shoreline than historically typical, with some vessels hijacked while anchored off Yemen or positioned over 65 nautical miles from coastal areas.
Puntland’s Security Ministry stated that investigations suggest external forces beyond its control are orchestrating the renewed piracy activities, though specific parties were not named. The ministry reported deploying security forces along its coastline and filed complaints regarding airstrikes that allegedly damaged fishing vessels and property in coastal communities where seized ships are being held. The ministry referenced strikes near Garacad on two recent dates but did not identify responsible parties. International Maritime Bureau data indicates that Somali pirates accounted for 94 percent of crew members taken hostage globally during the first half of the year, underscoring the region’s significance in worldwide maritime security concerns.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI