Yemen Monitor / Marib / Agencies:
A commercial vessel successfully repelled a coordinated pirate attack early Friday off Yemen’s coast in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, marking a new security incident at a time when major shipping lines are cautiously considering the resumption of transit through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, following a recent decline in Houthi attacks.
According to gCaptain website, which specializes in maritime security, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a bulk carrier came under attack by roughly 15 small boats about 15 nautical miles off western Yemen.
Exchange of Fire at Close Range
The report says the attacking skiffs closed in to a dangerously short distance—between one and two nautical cables—prompting the armed security team on board to return fire and force the assailants to withdraw.
Maritime tracking data identified the targeted vessel as the Bobic, which maintained speed while altering course immediately after issuing a distress call. The ship’s captain confirmed that all crew members were safe and that the vessel was continuing its voyage to the next port after the security team successfully repelled the attack.
Piracy Incident as Red Sea Traffic Slowly Recovers
The attack comes as the maritime industry witnesses a gradual return of container services to the Red Sea route. The report noted that several major shipping alliances—such as the Ocean Alliance—have begun resuming Suez Canal transits on their return journeys to Asia.
The website added that this renewed momentum follows a November announcement by the Houthis declaring a “pause” in their naval operations. However, maritime security experts warn that risks remain significant and that the threat should be viewed as “suppressed” rather than completely eliminated.
Yemeni territorial waters and Bab al-Mandab Strait are among the world’s most sensitive maritime corridors. While global attention over the past two years has focused on Houthi missile and drone attacks, the resurgence of “traditional piracy”—involving small boats, ladders, and boarding attempts—suggests that criminal networks are exploiting the security vacuum and the distraction of international forces, adding yet another layer of complexity to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden security landscape.
