Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Yemeni Coast Guard Authority said on Friday that it is following up on the incident of the seizure of the oil tanker ASANA, which was subjected to a piracy operation off the coast of Hadramawt Governorate, as local and international efforts continue to monitor the vessel and verify the safety of its crew.
The Authority stated in a statement that its operations center immediately, upon receiving the report, initiated follow-up and coordination procedures with international partners and maritime bodies operating in the region, to track developments of the incident and support response efforts in a manner that preserves the security and safety of navigation in the Gulf of Aden.
It added that the latest information indicates continued monitoring of the tanker, with naval vessels heading to its location, including a Yemeni Coast Guard boat, alongside the execution of aerial reconnaissance sorties to track its status.
It explained that preliminary data showed one person near the ship’s bridge, while the tanker continues to sail slowly southeastward towards the Somali coast.
The Coast Guard Authority affirmed that follow-up and coordination operations with regional and international parties are ongoing until the incident concludes.
Earlier, the Regional Maritime Information Exchange Center in Aden had announced that armed men took control of the MT ASANA tanker while it was sailing in the Gulf of Aden, suggesting that the incident is likely a piracy operation aimed at holding the vessel and its crew for ransom.
It noted that the tanker changed course after the attack and headed toward the Somali coast, and remains under the control of the armed men.
