Armed Pirate Attacks Intensify Near Yemen and Gulf of Aden
Pirates are showing increasingly aggressive tactics in the Gulf of Aden and off the Somali coast, with armed groups repeatedly opening fire on commercial vessels during boarding attempts, The Maritime Telegraph reports.
According to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO), several attacks took place within days of each other in waters near Aden, Yemen. In each case, armed individuals approached merchant ships in small skiffs and fired at the vessels. One incident reportedly involved a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG).
The latest attack occurred on June 17, about 105 nautical miles northeast of Aden. Armed men in two skiffs opened fire on a vessel, but the ship’s security team returned fire and forced the attackers to retreat.
Two similar incidents were reported on June 15. In one case, attackers allegedly fired an RPG at a tanker southeast of Aden. In another, a skiff targeted the Panama-flagged container ship Greta Star, which escaped by increasing speed. A further attack on June 14 involved 12 armed individuals in two boats. The vessel’s security team exchanged gunfire with the attackers for about 30 minutes before they withdrew.
Maritime security authorities say piracy-related incidents have increased since April. Ship operators are being urged to remain vigilant, strengthen protective measures, and report suspicious activity immediately.
