Somali pirates have hijacked an oil products tanker off the coast of Yemen, marking the latest incident in a noticeable resurgence of piracy in the region. The Eritrean-flagged M.T. Sibu 1 was seized by six armed pirates on Thursday approximately 136 nautical miles east of al-Mukalla, Yemen, and was taken towards Somalia’s Puntland coast.
The vessel is managed by UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management. Last year, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the tanker, alleging it was part of an Iranian “shadow fleet” used to transport petroleum products to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
The M.T. Sibu 1 was carrying 20 crew members: 16 Indian nationals, one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Iraqi. The nationality of one crew member remains unconfirmed. The tanker’s previous port of call and its intended destination have not been disclosed.
This hijacking follows the seizure of the Lutuf, a general cargo vessel flagged in Cameroon, off the coast of Somalia just three days prior. The Lutuf had 10 crew members on board, including six Indians, a Turkish national, a Georgian national, and two Serbian security guards.
Since April 21, when the Palau-flagged tanker Honor 25 was seized, the M.T. Sibu 1 has become the sixth commercial vessel hijacked by Somali pirates. Previous hijackings include the Sward on April 26, the Eureka on May 2, the Asana on July 17, and the Lutuf on August 17. Notably, some of these attacks have occurred further from Somalia's coast, with the Eureka being hijacked while anchored off Yemen and the Asana seized about 65 nautical miles southwest of al-Mukalla.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, 38 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were recorded globally in the first half of 2026, with five of those being hijackings. Somali pirates were responsible for 94% of crew members taken hostage during that period.
Puntland's Security Ministry stated on Friday that its investigations suggest forces beyond its control are behind the renewed piracy, though no specific group or country was identified. The ministry also reported deploying security forces along its coast and condemned airstrikes that allegedly hit fishing vessels and property near coastal communities where hijacked ships were being held. Puntland has called for explanations regarding strikes near Garacad on August 18 and August 20, although the perpetrators of these strikes were not identified and the allegations could not be independently confirmed.