▲ Location of the unauthorized boarding of an oil tanker on the 17th (local time)
An incident has occurred in which an armed group boarded an oil tanker sailing in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Yemen without authorization.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on the 17th (local time), a report was received at approximately 11:00 a.m. that "unauthorized personnel" had boarded a vessel at a location 65 nautical miles (approximately 120 km) from the Yemeni port city of Al Mukalla.
The Associated Press reported that the British maritime security firm Ambrey stated it is presumed that Somali pirates boarded the oil tanker and that the vessel likely did not have an armed security team on board.
Ambrey added that a South Korean naval vessel is heading to the scene to provide support in response to the distress signal sent by the oil tanker.
The South Korean warship mentioned by Ambrey is likely a vessel from the 48th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit, such as the ROKS Wang Geon, which was recently deployed to the Gulf of Aden.
Amid recent instability in Middle Eastern waters, including the Strait of Hormuz, due to military clashes between the United States and Iran, the activity of Somali pirates in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden has been on the rise.
(Photo: Provided by UKMTO, Yonhap News)
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