On Sunday, two merchant ships were attacked by armed skiffs off the coast of Yemen, according to reports from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). This has raised new concerns about piracy and maritime security in the...
On Sunday, two merchant ships were attacked by armed skiffs off the coast of Yemen, according to reports from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). This has raised new concerns about piracy and maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, even as attention has been focused on the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the Houthis.
The first incident occurred about 14 nautical miles south of Yemen's coast. A containership reported that a small skiff approached it, and the individuals on board opened fire and tried to board the ship. Fortunately, the attack was unsuccessful, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
A few hours later, UKMTO issued another alert regarding a tanker located roughly 111 nautical miles southeast of Aden. In this incident, a skiff with four armed people reportedly approached the tanker and fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Authorities are currently investigating both incidents.
This comes less than a week after an armed security team on a merchant ship fired back at a small craft with six armed individuals about 88 nautical miles southwest of Balhaf, Yemen. In that situation, the security team’s return fire caused the attackers to flee.
While the Iran-backed Houthi movement has threatened to restart attacks on Israeli-related shipping in the Red Sea and nearby waters, the tactics used in these latest incidents are quite different from the Houthi's recent operations, which have mainly relied on missiles, drones, and unmanned vessels.
The use of armed skiffs and attempted boardings is more reminiscent of traditional piracy, which was a significant issue in the region during the peak of the Somali piracy crisis.
The latest advisory from the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has cautioned that piracy activities could still occur in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, mentioning that three merchant vessels are presently held by Somali pirates, including an oil products tanker captured earlier this year.
The Gulf of Aden remains one of the most vital shipping routes in the world, linking the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
These incidents are a reminder that shipowners operating in the Gulf of Aden face various security risks, including piracy, armed robbery, and the broader instability associated with regional conflicts.