UK Maritime Trade Operations confirmed on 20 August 2026 that six armed persons boarded a westbound products tanker about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, took control, and redirected the vessel toward Somalia. Maritime security sources identified the ship as U.S.-sanctioned Sibu 1 (IMO 9204776, formerly Seamull).
The tanker issued a VHF Channel 16 distress after an unauthorised approach; AIS later showed a “PIRATE ONBOARD HELP”-type message before the course change. OFAC sanctioned the vessel in December 2025 for moving Iranian petroleum products and calling at Houthi-controlled Yemen ports. The hijacking is the second boarding in the wider Somali/Gulf of Aden cluster this week after LUTUF was taken near Mareeyo on 17 August.
What Operators Should Note
- Reapply BMP MS 2025 measures across the full Gulf of Aden High Risk Area, not only Bab el-Mandeb approaches.
- Shadow-fleet and sanctioned tonnage remain high-value pirate targets when naval bandwidth is stretched.
- Maintain citadel, speed and reporting discipline; treat persistent small-craft approaches as boarding attempts.
- Avoid unnecessary slowdowns or coastal hugging toward the Somali EEZ.
RegulAs Shipping will update crew status and vessel position as UKMTO and naval forces report.
