Somali pirates briefly hijack MT Glamour off Yemen coast

Six armed Somali pirates briefly hijacked the MT Glamour, a vessel sailing under the flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, off the coast of Yemen on Thursday. The boarding occurred approximately 38 nautical miles offshore after the attackers launched from a fishing village in the Puntland region.

The crew responded by shutting down the ship’s systems and taking refuge in the vessel’s armored citadel. The pirates abandoned the ship after a Japanese warship and naval helicopters approached the scene.

This incident is part of a significant resurgence in regional piracy, with the International Maritime Organization noting at least 15 attacks recorded this year—the highest frequency since 2013. While the MV Sward was released on Friday following a ransom payment, four other tankers remain held by pirates off the Somali coast.