Merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden face RPG attacks and boarding attempts, prompting warnings from maritime authorities about rising piracy threats.
Merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden have come under attack from armed small boats, including RPG fire at a tanker and a failed boarding attempt on a container ship, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations and the Joint Maritime Information Center.
The first incident occurred at 0735 UTC on 15 June when a container ship was approached by a skiff 14 nautical miles south of Yemen. The attackers opened fire and attempted to board the vessel. Hours later, at 1335 UTC, a tanker 111 nautical miles southeast of Aden was targeted by a skiff carrying four armed men who fired an RPG, reported Saint Petersburg's PortNews.
A third attack followed at 1610 UTC on 17 June when two skiffs approached an unidentified vessel 105 nautical miles northeast of Aden. The attackers closed to within four meters before the ship's security team returned fire, forcing them to withdraw. Fortunately, the crew remained safe.
The Joint Maritime Information Center stated that threats linked to historic skiff activity and piracy-related approaches remain prevalent in the Gulf of Aden. It warned that Pirate Action Group activity is possible, particularly in coastal approaches and small-boat operating areas.
Advisories recommended BMP-compliant (Best Management Practices) watchkeeping through the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor. UKMTO urged owners, operators, and crews to remain alert to the more aggressive pattern of armed approaches now emerging in the region.
