On Thursday, armed pirates took control of an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen, marking a troubling resurgence in Somali piracy activities in recent months. The vessel, identified as the SEAMULL, also known as SIBU 1, was hijacked approximately 136 nautical miles (around 250 km) from the port city of Al-Mukalla.
The armed group has directed the tanker towards Somalia, according to maritime security agencies, including UKMTO and the Maritime Security Centre for the Indian Ocean (MSCIO), which is linked to the European Union’s naval mission, Atalanta.
Initially, the tanker sent out a distress signal indicating it was approached by an unauthorized vessel while navigating west in the Gulf of Aden. The MSCIO has urged other vessels in the area to remain vigilant.
Piracy incidents off the Somali coast had significantly decreased following a peak in 2011, thanks to international naval missions, the establishment of a police force trained by the EU in the Puntland region, and various measures taken by shipowners, such as altering shipping routes, increasing vessel speeds, employing armed guards, and enhancing onboard security.
However, this year has seen a rise in piracy, particularly off the northeastern Somali region of Puntland, where at least five ships remain under pirate control, the latest hijacking occurring the previous Monday.
Since the fall of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, Somalia has been engulfed in conflict and chaos, with rival armed factions and militant leaders vying for control, perpetually threatening commercial shipping through piracy.
