Oil Tanker Hijacked Off Yemen's Shabwa Coast

Yemen's coast guard reported on Saturday that unidentified armed men hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Shabwa province, boarding the vessel, seizing control and steering it toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of Somali waters.

The coast guard stated that the position of the MT Eureka has been located. Operations are underway to track and recover the ship while prioritizing the safety of the crew, according to the statement. Officials provided no immediate details on the number of hijackers or the crew's condition.

The incident follows a report earlier the same day from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which described suspicious activity approximately 84 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port city of Mukalla. The master of a bulk carrier observed a small green-hulled skiff, accompanied by a white fishing vessel, approaching within 500 meters of the ship.

UKMTO issued an advisory on social media, urging vessels in the area to exercise caution, remain vigilant and report any unusual movements to authorities as investigations continue. "Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO while authorities continue...