Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen, according to multiple Somali security officials who spoke with the BBC — the vessel in question, the MT Eureka, was reportedly overrun by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, near the port of Qana.

MT Eureka Hijacked in Gulf of Aden

The Yemeni coastguard earlier confirmed the hijacking and stated that the tanker was en route to Somalia — the pirates reportedly departed from a remote coastal area near the seaside town of Qandala, which is located on the Gulf of Aden. Three separate security officials from the semi-autonomous Puntland region shared this information with the BBC.

MT Eureka was sailing under the flag of the West African nation of Togo prior to the hijacking, and the attack occurred at 5:00 AM local time (03:00 BST) this morning. The vessel is now in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and Somalia and is expected to anchor in Somali waters in the coming hours.

Second Hijacking in 10 Days

This marks the second hijacking of an oil tanker in the area in 10 days; Earlier, on April 22, the Honor 25 was hijacked by Somali pirates. The Honor 25 was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil bound for Mogadishu.

In a separate incident. The United Kingdom Maritime Transportation Operation (UKMTO) reported on Friday that armed persons on a skiff approached a bulk carrier near Al-Mukala, Yemen. The armed individuals were said to have come from a remote coastal area near the fishing town of Caluula (Alula), according to three separate security officials.

Caluula is located 209km (130 miles) from where the hijackers departed to seize the MT Eureka. The two separate incidents highlight how piracy is expanding across Somalia’s vast coastline, which is the longest in mainland Africa at 3,333km (2071 miles).

Piracy Resurgence and Security Lapse

Today’s hijacking marks the fourth successful pirate hijacking in two weeks. Somali authorities and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), which oversees anti-piracy operations in Somali waters, have not yet commented on the latest hijacking.

Somali piracy, which had been in decline since 2011, has surged again since late 2023. This increase is attributed to the Houthi rebels attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. The attacks have drawn international navies away from anti-piracy efforts, allowing armed groups along the Somali coast to exploit the security lapse.

“The on-going crisis with the pirates is much worse than many realize. There are increasing movements (of armed groups) all over the coast,” a security official from the semi-autonomous Puntland region told the BBC.