Somali Pirates Hijack Oil Tanker MT Eureka in Gulf of Aden
Second tanker hijacking in 10 days marks resurgence of piracy along Africa's longest coastline
Quick Look
- Somali pirates have hijacked the MT Eureka oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden near the port of Qana, marking the second tanker hijacking in the region within 10 days.
- The pirates departed from near Qandala in Puntland and overran the Togo-flagged vessel at 5:00 AM local time.
- The incident follows the April 22 hijacking of Honor 25 and comes amid a surge in Somali piracy since late 2023, when Houthi attacks forced international navies to redirect resources.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Somali piracy declined significantly after 2011 due to international naval operations and onboard security measures. However, since late 2023, attacks have surged as Houthi rebels began targeting ships in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea, forcing international navies to redirect resources away from anti-piracy operations toward addressing the Houthi threat.
Somali pirates have hijacked an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen, according to multiple Somali security officials that spoke with the BBC. The Yemeni coastguard earlier said the tanker MT Eureka had been hijacked and was headed towards Somalia. Sources said it was overrun by pirates in the Gulf of Aden, near the port of Qana. The pirates departed a remote coastal area near the seaside town of Qandala, which sits on the Gulf of Aden, according to three separate security officials from the semi-autonomous Puntland region who spoke with the BBC. It marks the second hijacking of an oil tanker in the area in a 10-day period, following the hijacking of Honor 25 by Somali pirates on April 22. MT Eureka was sailing on the flag of the west African nation of Togo prior to the hijacking and was overrun by the gunmen at 5:00 AM local time (03:00 BST) this morning, the security official went on to tell the BBC. It is now sailing in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and Somalia, and is expected to anchor in Somali waters in the coming hours. 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. Those armed persons departed a remote coastal area near the fishing town of Caluula (Alula), according to three separate security officials. Caluula is 209km (130 miles) from where hijackers departed to seize the MT Eureka. The two separate incidents indicate piracy is expanding across Somalia's vast coastline, which is the longest in mainland Africa at 3,333km (2071 miles). Somali authorities and the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), which oversees anti piracy operations in Somali waters, are yet to address the latest hijacking. Somali piracy, which was on the decline since 2011, has surged again since late 2023, when Houthi rebels began attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. The attacks forced international navies to instead tackle the Houthi threat, thus allowing armed groups on the Somali coast to take advantage of the security lapse.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
More tanker hijackings likely in coming weeks as pirates exploit reduced naval presence
Likely · Within weeks
International navies may reinforce anti-piracy operations
Possible · Within weeks
Open Questions
- What is the current status of the MT Eureka crew?
- What is the fate of the Honor 25 and its crew?
- Will EUNAVFOR or Somali authorities increase patrols?
- What demands are the pirates making?
