Yemen reports hijacked oil tanker headed for Somalia | Shipping News
Piracy on the Rise Near Somali Coast Amid Regional Conflicts
Published: May 2, 2026
Yemen’s Coast Guard is taking action to recover an oil tanker hijacked off its southeastern coast, which is currently en route to Somalia. The vessel, identified as the “M/T Eureka,” was seized near Shabwa province as armed assailants boarded and gained control of the ship. Following the hijacking, the tanker was redirected toward the Gulf of Aden.
This incident marks the fourth reported attack near Somalia in recent weeks. Authorities suggest that the increase in piracy is linked to geopolitical tensions related to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Naval forces tasked with patrolling the Red Sea have been diverted due to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, creating an opportunity for pirates, officials reported.
In a statement, the Coast Guard emphasized its collaboration with international partners to recover the tanker and ensure the safety of the crew, whose current status remains unknown. However, they acknowledged the limitations of their resources, which are exacerbated by Yemen’s ongoing economic struggles.
Recent military actions in the region have elevated the piracy threat level. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has advised vessels to “transit with caution” along the Somali coast, raising the threat level to “substantial.” Meanwhile, the European Union’s naval forces indicated that the current conflict in Iran has opened a “window of opportunity” for piracy groups to operate.
The surge in piracy is reminiscent of the early 2000s when Somalia’s coastline was notorious for such activities. At its height, Somali piracy cost the global economy approximately $18 billion annually, with over 200 recorded attacks in 2011. While an international naval coalition effectively reduced these incidents to nearly zero by 2014, reports of similar activities began to resurface in 2023. Analysts attribute this resurgence to anti-piracy efforts being redirected to the Red Sea to counter threats posed by Houthi forces, who have intensified their attacks on vessels in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, framing their actions as a response to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
