An unnamed tanker was boarded by armed men south of Yemen. The crew took refuge in the citadel; the ship sustained damage to the bridge and adjacent areas.
The incident took place on Wednesday, around 76 sm south of Balhaf in the Gulf of Aden, when the vessel was boarded by armed individuals. This was reported by UKMTO on ‘X’.
According to the Company Security Officer (CSO), a suspicious small boat approached the vessel. There were reportedly four people on board the boat. They were armed with, amongst other things, RPGs (anti-tank rocket-propelled grenades).
The crew were overpowered, stopped the vessel and retreated to the citadel, where they made an emergency call and awaited assistance. The pirates then left the vessel. When the crew left the citadel to inspect their vessel, they discovered that the bridge and several adjacent compartments had been damaged. All crew members remained unharmed. The boat could still pose a risk to other vessels.
Damage to the bridge and adjacent compartments
According to further information provided by the captain, the attackers caused damage to the bridge and several adjacent compartments. The Company Security Officer initially reported minor damage to the bridge. UKMTO stated that the investigation into the incident was ongoing. Vessels in the area were advised to transit with caution and to report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
IMB: Tighter security situation
The incident is part of a more tense security situation on the world’s oceans. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) had recorded 137 incidents of piracy and violence worldwide in 2025, up from 116 the previous year. Particularly striking was the more frequent use of firearms. In addition to the Strait of Singapore and the Gulf of Guinea, Somali pirate groups have recently come back into sharper focus following reports of two armed incidents far off the coast in November.
