The chemical tanker Asana was hijacked off Yemen on July 17, raising alarms about Somali piracy as investigations unfold.
A small chemical tanker sailing off the coast of Yemen came under the control of armed pirates following a distress call made on the morning of Friday, July 17. In the aftermath of the incident, Somali and other regional authorities launched an investigation into claims that the vessel was being taken towards the Somali coastline.
According to international maritime sources, the hijacked vessel is believed to be the chemical tanker named Asana, operated by a South Korean company and registered under a Marshall Islands-based company. There are conflicting reports regarding the vessel's flag; while the Equasis database lists the flag information as 'unknown,' many sources report that the ship is flying the Tanzanian flag.
Built in 1992, Asana has a carrying capacity of approximately 10,960 DWT and is 127 meters long. The vessel has been operating under the name Asana for the past three years.
The pirate attack reportedly took place approximately 63 nautical miles south of the Yemeni city of Al Mukalla. In recent weeks, there has been a notable increase in piracy activities in the same region, prompting international security organizations to warn of rising risks to commercial vessels passing through the area.
Earlier this month, a cargo ship named Golden Arsenal also fell victim to a similar attack. Thanks to the crew retreating to a secure area on board, the pirates were unable to fully seize control of the vessel, and following the intervention of the Indian Navy that arrived at the scene, the attackers were forced to abandon the ship.
Initial assessments indicated that Asana was being towed. However, the maritime security monitoring organization MSCIO reported that the vessel is now back in motion. Maritime security company Ambrey announced that a warship belonging to the South Korean navy has been directed to the area to reach the incident site.
The recent hijacking occurred at a critical juncture in negotiations for the release of sailors held on three commercial vessels off the coast of Somalia since April.
A total of 44 sailors aboard the vessels Honour 25, Eureka, and Sward remain in the hands of pirates. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), Egyptian authorities, and relevant countries continue to express concerns regarding the safety of the crew, while the Egyptian government has intensified diplomatic efforts for the release of its citizens.
Maritime circles assess that the security crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has increased the economic value of transporting oil and petroleum products, making product tankers particularly attractive targets for pirates.
It is noted that two of the currently held vessels are product tankers, and according to unverified reports in the international media, pirates have significantly raised the ransom amounts they are demanding in exchange for the crew's release.
Experts point out that the resurgence of piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia is increasing security risks for commercial vessels passing through the region.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
