Suspected Somali pirates hijacked a Tanzanian-flagged tanker off Yemen’s coast and took it to waters off Somalia’s northeastern Puntland region, security sources and local officials said on Sunday.
The MT ASANA, a 1992-built general and chemical tanker, was seized on Friday after leaving Mukalla, Yemen.
Local officials said the vessel is now being held off the coast of Caluula in Puntland’s semiautonomous Bari region.
Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly, said seven armed Somali pirates boarded and seized the tanker.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) first reported that unauthorised people had boarded a merchant vessel about 65 nautical miles south of Mukalla.
The Yemeni Coast Guard later said the attack took place about 26 nautical miles off Yemen’s Hadramout province.
Maritime security company Ambrey said the tanker sent a distress call during the incident and was not carrying an armed security team.
A
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
