Vessel Hijacked in Gulf of Aden, Taken Into Somali Waters

LONDON, July 18: A commercial vessel has been hijacked after being boarded by unauthorized personnel while transiting the Gulf of Aden, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Saturday.

According to UKMTO, the incident occurred approximately 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, where the vessel was boarded by unidentified individuals while sailing east.

In an updated advisory, military authorities informed UKMTO that the vessel had been maneuvered into Somali territorial waters, prompting the agency to reclassify the incident as a hijacking.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. No immediate details were released regarding the vessel's crew, cargo, or the identity of those responsible.

UKMTO has advised all vessels transiting the area to exercise extreme caution and promptly report any suspicious activity as security concerns persist in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.