Tanker Seamull Hijacked in Gulf of Aden, UKMTO Reports

The tanker Seamull, also known as Sibu 1, was reportedly hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on 20 August, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The vessel was transiting westbound through the central Gulf of Aden in international waters, approximately 34 nautical miles from the Yemeni coast, when a military source reported the vessel under pirate attack at 08:25 UTC. At 09:57 UTC, on 20 August the incident was upgraded to a hijacking. The attackers reportedly expressed an intention to take the vessel toward Bosaso, Somalia, with six armed persons reported to be on board. The incident remains under investigation, while the condition of the crew and the vessel has not been confirmed.