Oil Tanker MT Eureka Hijacked off Yemen as Somali Piracy Surges

What happened

Somali pirates hijacked the oil tanker MT Eureka in the Gulf of Aden early Friday morning. The vessel, which sails under the flag of Togo, was overrun by gunmen near the Yemeni port of Qana at approximately 05:00 local time. According to multiple security officials from Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region, the tanker is currently being navigated toward the Somali coast and is expected to anchor in local waters within the coming hours.

What's new in this update

This seizure marks the fourth successful hijacking by Somali pirates in just a 14-day window. It follows the hijacking of the Honor 25 on April 22, which was transporting 18,500 barrels of oil. In a separate but concurrent development, the United Kingdom Maritime Transportation Operation (UKMTO) reported that armed individuals on a skiff approached another bulk carrier near Al-Mukala, Yemen, suggesting a coordinated or widespread expansion of pirate activity along the coastline.

Key details

The hijackers reportedly launched their operation from a remote coastal area near the town of Qandala. The MT Eureka was targeted while positioned between Yemen and Somalia. Security officials noted that the gunmen involved in the separate UKMTO-reported approach departed from the fishing town of Caluula, roughly 209 kilometers from the site where the MT Eureka was seized. This indicates that pirate groups are utilizing various points along Somalia’s 3,333km coastline to launch attacks.

Background and context

While Somali piracy had been largely dormant since 2011, it has seen a sharp increase since late 2023. Security analysts point to the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have been attacking international shipping, as a primary catalyst. The Houthi threat has forced international naval forces to redeploy resources away from anti-piracy patrols, creating a security vacuum that armed groups on the Somali coast are now exploiting.

What to watch next

The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), which manages anti-piracy operations in the region, has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the MT Eureka. Observers are monitoring whether the vessel will be held for ransom and if the recent string of successes will prompt a shift in international naval strategy to provide more comprehensive coverage of the Gulf of Aden and the Somali basin.