Tanzanian‑flagged tanker Asana hijacked off Yemen

On 17 July 2026 a chemical/oil tanker called Asana, flying the Tanzanian flag, was boarded by unauthorised persons about 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla on Yemen’s Gulf of Aden coast. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) described the event as an “illegal boarding” and the Yemeni coastguard confirmed that the ship was seized by suspected Somali pirates and was sailing slowly southeast toward Somalia.

The vessel issued a distress call around 06:20 GMT; it had no armed security team on board. A South Korean warship was dispatched to the area, while British and Yemeni authorities coordinated with international maritime partners. The EU naval mission Atalanta (MSCIO) is monitoring the incident. This hijacking is part of a recent resurgence of Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden, where the French navy recorded 18 piracy incidents since April 2024.

The Gulf of Aden is a key shipping corridor linking the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean, carrying roughly 12‑15 % of global trade value and about 30 % of world container traffic. The attack raises concerns over the safety of this route and potential impacts on oil and chemical shipments.