The British Navy's maritime trade agency (UKMTO, for its acronym in English) communicated this Thursday that a group of armed men has boarded and taken control of a tanker in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Yemen, subsequently diverting it towards Somalia.
"Information has been received about an incident 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen. A tanker issued a distress call indicating that an unauthorized vessel approached it while sailing west in the Gulf of Aden," explained the British agency in a statement.
According to data released by UKMTO, at least six armed individuals would have boarded the vessel, which they would already have "under control." "They are heading to Somalia. Authorities are investigating. Vessels are advised to navigate with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO," the note states.
The incident has taken place in an area where Somali pirate groups historically operate, carrying out attacks and boardings of merchant ships to demand economic ransoms. This type of action has increased in recent years, generating growing concern in the maritime routes of the region.