Key facts
- The MT Asana, a Tanzanian-flagged fuel and chemical tanker, was hijacked in Yemeni waters.
- The ship is now being held by Somali pirates in Somalia's Puntland region.
- The vessel carries 19 crew members, including Indian, Syrian, Yemeni, and Egyptian nationals.
- UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the vessel was maneuvered into Somali waters after the boarding.
A merchant ship, the MT Asana, that was hijacked in Yemeni waters of the Gulf of Aden last week is now being held by Somali pirates, according to residents of Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region. The Tanzanian-flagged fuel and chemical tanker was boarded by unauthorized personnel before being maneuvered into Somali waters, the UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed.
The vessel had 19 crew members on board, including 11 Indians, five Syrians, two Yemenis, and an Egyptian, according to a manifest seen by Reuters. A resident of Caluula in Puntland reported seeing pirates transporting food to the hijacked ship.
Somali piracy was rampant between 2008 and 2018, and activity has begun to increase again since late 2023.