Eureka Oil Tanker Hijacked and Taken to Somalia, Pirate Threat Increases Again
Yemeni Coast Guard authorities confirmed on Saturday, May 2, 2027, that the Eureka oil tanker was hijacked by an unknown armed group near Shabwa Province, Yemen, and diverted toward the coast of Somalia. The Togo-flagged vessel was previously recorded at the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates in late March. Tracking operations are underway to monitor the ship's movement and ensure crew safety.
This incident marks the return of the piracy threat in Somalia, which had subsided for over a decade. The EU naval mission, Operation Atalanta, recorded at least three new maritime attacks in late April in the Gulf of Aden area. Although there's geopolitical tension in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, there's no direct indication yet that this hijacking is linked to that conflict.
Last month, another tanker was reportedly seized by a pirate group based in Garacad, northeastern Somalia, indicating a resurgence of the serious threat to global trade in the region. The identity and number of the Eureka's crew have not been disclosed to the public yet.
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