World · India Bureau
Armed gunmen hijack oil tanker in Gulf of Aden
Six armed men have seized control of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden and diverted it toward Somalia, according to UK maritime security monitors. The incident marks the latest in a series of escalating piracy attacks in the strategic waterway.
LSN India ·
The Semaul, a crude oil tanker, was commandeered by six armed personnel who directed the vessel toward Somali waters, UK Maritime Trade Operations reported. The hijacking underscores mounting security concerns in one of the world's busiest and most volatile shipping corridors.
The incident comes within days of another major seizure in the region, when Somali pirates captured a Turkish-registered vessel carrying military equipment. The uptick in maritime attacks has raised fresh alarm bells among shipping companies and maritime authorities operating in the gulf.
The Gulf of Aden, a crucial chokepoint between the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, handles significant volumes of global trade. Piracy incidents in the region had subsided in previous years following international naval patrols, but recent attacks suggest a resurgence of organized maritime banditry off the Somali coast.
Maritime security firms have advised vessels transiting the gulf to heighten vigilance and implement enhanced protective measures. The escalating threat to commercial shipping has prompted renewed calls for coordinated international action to combat piracy operations emanating from Somalia.