Yemen Coast Guard Tracking Hijacked Tanker M/T Eureka
Yemen’s Coast Guard is currently attempting to recover the oil tanker M/T Eureka after it was seized by armed assailants off the coast of the southeastern Shabwa province. The vessel was hijacked at approximately 5:00 a.m. local time and is currently being steered toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of Somali waters.
Yemeni officials confirmed they have identified the tanker’s location and are tracking the vessel. The Coast Guard has initiated response procedures, dispatching patrol boats from Aden and smaller vessels from Shabwa to coordinate with international partners and maritime security agencies operating in the Gulf of Aden. Despite these efforts, officials cautioned that their operational capabilities remain constrained by Yemen’s dire economic situation. The status of the crew remains unknown, though authorities are working to ensure their safety.
A Surge in Regional Maritime Piracy
The seizure of the M/T Eureka marks at least the fourth successful pirate hijacking in the region within a two-week period. This recent activity follows a broader pattern of maritime insecurity that has intensified since April 20.
Other recent incidents include:
- Alkhary 2: A Somali-flagged fishing vessel hijacked on April 20 and later released.
- Honor 25: An oil tanker carrying approximately 18,000 barrels of oil seized on April 21. Pirate action groups remained on board as of late April.
- Sward: A merchant vessel hijacked 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad, Somalia, on April 26, reportedly carrying a 15-person crew.
In addition to these seizures, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) recently reported an incident near Al-Mukala, Yemen, where armed individuals on a skiff approached a bulk carrier before departing. Security officials noted that these armed groups are increasingly active, with some identified as departing from remote coastal areas such as Qandala, Caluula, and Garacad.
For more on this story, see Iran-US war latest news: US missiles take out key Iranian bridges.
Geopolitical Factors and the “Window of Opportunity”
Analysts and officials link the resurgence of piracy to the broader geopolitical instability in the region. Since the start of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran in February, international naval forces have been redirected. Many patrols that previously focused on anti-piracy operations have been diverted to the Red Sea to counter Houthi attacks in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait or to secure civilian maritime routes near the Strait of Hormuz.
The European Union’s naval forces have stated that the war in Iran has provided piracy groups with a window of opportunity.
Security officials in Puntland have warned that the crisis is more severe than previously realized, noting widespread movements of armed groups along the coast. Furthermore, the rise in global oil prices—with Brent crude exceeding $110 per barrel—has increased the value of fuel tankers, making them more attractive targets for hijackers.
This follows our earlier report, Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Central Command Denies Blockage.
Historical Context of Somali Piracy
The current wave of attacks has prompted the UKMTO to raise the piracy threat level along the Somali coast to “substantial,” advising all vessels to transit with caution. This uptick represents a significant shift from the previous decade, during which an international naval coalition successfully suppressed piracy in the region. At the height of the piracy crisis in the early to mid-2000s, the World Bank estimated that hijackings cost the global economy as much as $18 billion annually. In 2011 alone, over 200 attacks were recorded. However, incidents began to rise again in 2023, setting the stage for the current security challenges facing maritime traffic in the Gulf of Aden.
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