Suspected Somali Pirates Hijack Tanzanian-flagged Tanker From Yemen

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Tanzanian-flagged tanker was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates disconnected Yemen’s coast, information sources and section officials acquainted pinch nan incident said Sunday.

The commercialized tanker has since been moved to waters disconnected Somalia’s northeastern Bari region, according section officials.

The MT ASANA, a wide tanker, was seized Friday aft departing from Mukalla, Yemen, according to nan sources. The alloy is now being held disconnected nan seashore of Caluula successful nan Bari region of nan semiautonomous authorities of Puntland.

According to sources who said connected information of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk nan incident publicly, nan vessel was hijacked by 7 equipped Somali pirates.

Public vessel-tracking information reviewed by nan Associated Press showed nan MT ASANA transmitting its position connected Friday arsenic it moved slow successful nan Gulf of Aden, listing Bosaso, Somalia, arsenic its destination. The alloy was walking astatine astir 2 knots, an unusually slow velocity accordant pinch earlier reports that it had transmitted a distress awesome during nan incident.

It was not instantly clear really galore unit members were aboard nan tanker aliases whether anyone had been injured. There was nary contiguous accusation connected nan nationality aliases nationalities of nan unit members.

Puntland authorities person not publically commented connected nan reported hijacking, and location was nary contiguous connection from nan vessel’s proprietor aliases manager. International naval forces operating successful nan region person besides not issued an contiguous nationalist update.

The hijacking is nan latest successful a bid of attacks attributed to Somali pirates, whose activities person resurfaced successful nan Gulf of Aden and nan occidental Indian Ocean aft years of comparative inactivity. Maritime information analysts person warned that persistent maritime insecurity and reduced world naval patrols person contributed to nan renewed threat.

Faruk writes for nan Associated Press.