Suspected Somali pirates seize tanker near Yemen amid wave of hijackings

An oil tanker identified as the Astana was seized approximately 26 nautical miles off Hadramawt province in Yemen on Friday, according to the Yemeni coastguard. The UK's maritime security agency, UKMTO, reported an illegal boarding occurred roughly 65 nautical miles south of the port of Mukalla, with unauthorized personnel boarding the vessel. Initial observations indicated a single individual near the ship's bridge, with the tanker moving slowly toward Somalia. Yemeni authorities coordinated with international partners and maritime agencies to assess the vessel's condition and monitor its movements, while naval vessels and aircraft conducted pursuit and reconnaissance operations. The seizure represents the latest incident in a marked resurgence of Somali piracy after more than a decade of dormancy. The Gulf of Aden, which connects to the Red Sea and Suez Canal, represents one of the world's most vital shipping lanes, with 12 to 15 percent of global trade by value and approximately 30 percent of container traffic passing through annually. Between 2005 and 2012, Somali pirates conducted over 1,000 attacks generating roughly $400 million in ransom payments, prompting an international response that largely eliminated hijackings by 2013. The shipping industry formally removed its high-risk designation for the Indian Ocean in 2023, reflecting confidence in improved security conditions. However, since April, the French navy's Mica Center has documented 18 piracy incidents and hijackings, with at least three vessels remaining held for ransom. Analysts attribute the renewed threat to stretched naval forces managing conflicts in the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, shipping traffic redirected closer to Somali waters due to rerouting, and ongoing instability within Somalia. Egypt's foreign ministry reported efforts through embassies in Mogadishu and Riyadh to secure the release of Egyptian sailors aboard the tanker Eureka, seized off Somalia in May. The EU's foreign policy chief signed a Status of Forces Agreement with Djibouti on Thursday, ensuring continued logistical support for naval missions patrolling the Red Sea and Horn of Africa.