A Tanzanian-flagged chemical tanker named ASANA was boarded by up to seven armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden on July 17, off the coast of Yemen. The tanker sent a distress signal.
The EU Aspides naval mission moved to assist. A South Korean warship also responded. Both were working to establish what had happened and reach the crew.
Maritime security sources said the attackers were Somali pirates, not Houthi fighters. The two pose distinct threats in overlapping waters. ASANA was the second tanker hijacked off Yemen since May. The MT Eureka was the first.
Somali Pirates Board Chemical Tanker ASANA in Gulf of Aden
Interest over time · Gulf of AdenWho's watching
- YE29%
- GB21%
- US20%
- EG14%
- SA10%
- IR6%
Track this story live on MarineRadar
Follow the ships and waters behind the headline in real time — satellite positions every 5 minutes, full voyage history and arrival alerts, straight from your phone.
Related stories
All maritime news
Marine NewsTanker MT Sibu 1 Seized in Gulf of Aden With 16 Indian Crew on Board
Eritrea-flagged oil tanker MT Sibu 1 was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden roughly 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast, with 16 Indian
Marine NewsCOSCO car carrier turns back in Gulf of Aden as Houthis block Saudi shipping
COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers vehicle carrier Liu Jiang Kou (IMO 9991795, 7,500 CEU) reversed course in the Gulf of Aden near Djibouti after
Marine NewsSanctioned Tanker Sibu 1 Hijacked in Gulf of Aden, Diverted Toward Somalia
Sanctioned tanker Sibu 1 seized by 6 armed pirates in Gulf of Aden, diverted toward Somalia, 2026-08-20
Marine NewsSaudi Arabia Forms 14-Nation Alliance to Guard Red Sea Shipping
Saudi Arabia and 13 other nations announced a maritime defense coalition at a Riyadh summit to protect Red Sea and Bab el-Mandab shipping from
Earlier stories
Published before this one
Never miss a story that moves the seas
The incidents, chokepoint shifts and vessel movements that matter — in your inbox the moment they break.