A report of suspicious activity involving an armed small craft near a commercial vessel off Yemen escalated into an illegal boarding on 1 July, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), marking the latest security incident in the Gulf of Aden.
The master of an unnamed vessel initially reported being approached by a suspicious small craft about 76 nautical miles (141km) south of Balhaf, Yemen. The vessel's name remains unclear.
The suspicious small craft had departed but remained active in the area, posing a potential threat to other vessels, UKMTO said later. The craft was described as carrying four armed individuals equipped with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). The targeted vessel sustained minor damage to its bridge.
The incident was subsequently reclassified by UKMTO as an illegal boarding after the vessel's master confirmed that the unauthorised personnel had caused damage to the ship's bridge and several adjacent compartments. The crew remained secure in the citadel and were reported safe.
In a separate incident less than three hours later on the same day, the master of an unnamed tanker reported that a small craft carrying four armed individuals approached the vessel's port quarter at 2 nautical miles, while it was 85 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen. The craft later departed to the south. The tanker continued its voyage, and both the vessel and crew were reported safe.
The latest incidents off Yemen and Somalia are likely to reinforce concerns over maritime security for commercial vessels transiting the Gulf of Aden, a key shipping corridor along Yemen's southern coast.
Vessels operating in the area are advised to maintain heightened vigilance and promptly report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities.
