Key facts
- An armed boarding of a commercial vessel occurred on July 1, approximately 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen.
- The vessel sustained minor damage to its bridge and adjacent compartments.
- The crew were safe in the vessel's citadel.
- A separate incident involving a tanker and an armed small craft occurred later the same day in the same region.
- The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on the incidents.
An illegal boarding of a commercial vessel occurred on July 1, approximately 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The vessel's master initially reported being approached by a suspicious small craft carrying four armed individuals equipped with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). The crew had mustered in the citadel and were reported safe. The craft departed but remained active in the area, posing a potential threat to other vessels. The targeted vessel sustained minor damage to its bridge and several adjacent compartments. The incident was reclassified as an illegal boarding by UKMTO.
In a separate incident less than three hours later on the same day, an unnamed tanker reported that a small craft carrying four armed individuals approached its port quarter while it was 85 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen. The craft later departed, and the tanker continued its voyage safely.
These incidents are likely to heighten concerns over maritime security in the Gulf of Aden, a critical shipping corridor.