The Gulf of Aden has once again become a hotspot for maritime piracy, with Somali pirates hijacking the Eritrean-flagged oil tanker M.T. Sibu 1. This latest incident, occurring about 136 nautical miles east of al-Mukalla, Yemen has raised concerns about the resurgence of piracy in the region.
The M.T. Sibu 1 managed by the UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management was seized by six armed pirates on Thursday. The vessel, which had 20 crew members aboard—16 Indians one Syrian, one Sudanese, one Iraqi, and one of unknown nationality—was taken towards the Puntland coast in Somalia.
The resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden
The hijacking of the M.T. Sibu 1 is not an isolated incident. Since April, Somali pirates have seized six commercial vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean. This resurgence has raised alarms among maritime security experts and international authorities.
The International Maritime Bureau recorded 38 piracy and armed robbery incidents worldwide during the first half of 2026, with Somali pirates accounting for 94% of crew members taken hostage. The attacks have occurred increasingly far from Somalia’s coastline, including the hijacking of the Eureka while anchored off Yemen and the Asana about 65 nautical miles southwest of al-Mukalla.
The recent wave of maritime attacks
Just three days before the M.T. Sibu 1 was hijacked, pirates seized the Lutuf a Cameroon-flagged general cargo vessel off the coast of Somalia. The Lutuf had 10 crew members aboard, including six Indians one Turkish national, one Georgian national, and two Serbian security guards.
The M.T. Sibu 1 is the sixth commercial vessel hijacked by Somali pirates since April 21 when the Palau-flagged tanker Honor 25 was seized off Somalia. Other vessels seized include the Sward on April 26 the Eureka on May 2 and the Asana on July 17.
The international response and ongoing investigations
The Puntland’s Security Ministry has stated that its investigations indicate that forces beyond Puntland’s control are behind the renewed piracy. However, the ministry did not identify any specific group or country responsible for these attacks.
Puntland has deployed security forces along its coast and condemned airstrikes that it claims struck fishing vessels and property near coastal communities where hijacked ships were being held. The ministry called on the countries involved to explain strikes near Garacad on August 18 and August 20.
The situation in the Gulf of Aden remains tense, with maritime authorities advising shipowners to exercise greater vigilance during transit in the region. The resurgence of piracy poses significant challenges to maritime security and international trade routes.
