Story perspectives

Yemen Coast Guard Pursues Hijacked Eureka Amid Rising Piracy

5/4/2026

Summary

Yemen Coast Guard Recovery

Yemen Coast Guard is trying to recover the oil tanker M/T Eureka after it was hijacked off Shabwa on May 2 and steered toward Somalia.
The hijacking is the fourth near Somalia, following an April 21 seizure of a vessel with 18,000 barrels of oil.
UK Maritime Trade Operations raised the piracy warning to “significant”, noting that EU forces view the Iran war as a “window of opportunity” for piracy.

Summary

Pirates Hijack

Pirates hijacked the Togo-flagged MT Eureka, which carried 18,500 barrels of oil for Mogadishu.
The hijack follows rising piracy after Houthi attacks diverted navies from Somali waters.
Puntland officials said the pirates left the vessel near Qandala, about 209 km from Caluula.
Somali authorities and the EU Naval Force have not commented on the hijack.
Puntland officials warned armed groups are moving along Somalia’s 3,333 km coast after four hijackings in two weeks.

Summary

Yemen Coastguard Reports

The M/T Eureka, owned by a UAE company under the Togolese flag, was hijacked after leaving Fujairah and anchoring near Al Mukallah.
Yemen’s coast guard, which serves the internationally recognized government, reported the seizure, not the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Marine Traffic data confirmed the vessel’s recent path, giving authorities a precise location for monitoring amid Gulf of Aden unrest since February 28, though officials see no link to the U.S.–Israeli war.

History

Historical Context

In 2009 the International Maritime Organization recorded about 200 Somali hijackings, prompting the EU’s Operation Atalanta to field 12 warships that shielded roughly 1,000 vessels and cut successful attacks by 70%. The UN had authorized naval entry into Somali waters in June 2008. The recent seizure of the UAE-owned, Togo-flagged M/T Eureka echoes that pattern, underscoring the need for sustained multinational patrols.

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Yemen Coast Guard Recovery

Yemen Coast Guard is trying to recover the oil tanker M/T Eureka after it was hijacked off Shabwa on May 2 and steered toward Somalia.
The hijacking is the fourth near Somalia, following an April 21 seizure of a vessel with 18,000 barrels of oil.
UK Maritime Trade Operations raised the piracy warning to “significant”, noting that EU forces view the Iran war as a “window of opportunity” for piracy.

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