Yemen’s Coast Guard is currently tracking the oil tanker M/T Eureka after armed assailants seized control of the vessel off the coast of Shabwa province. The hijacking, which occurred as the ship headed toward Somali waters, marks a recent surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden amid regional geopolitical tensions.
Hijacking of the M/T Eureka off Shabwa
The M/T Eureka was seized on Saturday off the coast of Yemen’s southeastern Shabwa province. According to Aljazeera, the vessel was boarded by armed assailants who took control and steered the tanker toward the Gulf of Aden in the direction of the Somali coast. Reports indicate the vessel was overrun at approximately 5:00 AM local time.
Yemeni authorities confirmed they have initiated response procedures. Despite these efforts, officials acknowledged that their operational capacity is constrained by the country’s difficult economic situation. The status of the crew remains unknown, and authorities are coordinating with international partners to secure their safety.
Escalating Piracy Threat in the Gulf of Aden
The seizure of the M/T Eureka is at least the fourth successful hijacking in the region in recent weeks. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has officially raised the piracy threat level along the Somali coast to “substantial,” advising all commercial vessels to transit the area with heightened caution.
For more on this story, see US Military Launches Major Strikes on Iran After Tanker Attacks: Global Markets React.
The recent string of maritime security incidents includes the hijacking of the tanker Honour 25 on April 21, which was carrying approximately 18,000 barrels of oil, and the merchant vessel Sward, which was reportedly seized 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad. Puntland officials confirmed that the Sward was carrying cement and flying the flag of St Kitts and Nevis when it was targeted by nine armed pirates.
This follows our earlier report, Iran Warns Against Military Action in the Strait of Hormuz.
Geopolitical Drivers and Security Gaps
Analysts suggest that the resurgence of piracy is linked to the diversion of international naval resources. As naval forces focus on the Red Sea to counter Houthi attacks and shepherd vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, security patrols in the Gulf of Aden have thinned.
Economic factors are also playing a significant role. Brent crude oil prices have risen by more than 50 percent since the start of the war in Iran, increasing the value of tankers as targets. The current trend marks a stark contrast to the period between 2014 and 2023, when international coalitions had successfully suppressed piracy to near-zero levels. Historically, at the height of the crisis in 2011, piracy was estimated to cost the global economy as much as $18bn annually.
Read also: Washington May Escalate Military Offensive if Iran Attacks Persist.
Unresolved Security Concerns
While the Yemeni Coast Guard continues its tracking efforts, significant details regarding the hijackers remain unclear. Authorities have not yet confirmed which specific groups are responsible for the latest string of boardings. In past years, maritime security in the region has been threatened by a mix of local fishermen and armed groups affiliated with larger militant organizations.
As the M/T Eureka remains in transit toward Somali waters, the primary focus for international maritime agencies is the immediate recovery of the vessel and the welfare of the crew members, whose status remains officially unconfirmed.
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