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Somali pirates hijack oil products tanker off Yemen, take it toward Somalia
The Eritrean-flagged M.T. Sibu 1 was sanctioned by the US Treasury last year over alleged ties to an Iranian “shadow fleet,” and it was carrying 20 crew members including 16 Indians.
Somali pirates hijacked an oil products tanker off Yemen, taking the Eritrean-flagged M.T. Sibu 1 toward Somalia’s Puntland coast, a Somali maritime security official told journalists, according to SCMP Economy. The official said the hijacking occurred on Thursday about 136 nautical miles, or 252 kilometres, east of al-Mukalla, and that 20 crew members were aboard, including 16 Indians, one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Iraqi. The nationality of one crew member was not immediately known, and the vessel’s prior port of departure and intended destination were unclear.
SCMP Economy reported that the tanker is managed by UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management. The vessel was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department last year for allegedly belonging to an Iranian “shadow fleet” used to transport petroleum products to evade US sanctions.
The hijacking followed recent seizures in the region, including the capture of the Cameroon-flagged general cargo vessel Lutuf three days earlier off Somalia’s coast. SCMP Economy also said the Sibu 1 is the sixth commercial vessel hijacked by Somali pirates since April 21, when the Palau-flagged tanker Honor 25 was seized, with additional hijackings reported on April 26, May 2, July 17, and August 17.