Pirates seize small product tanker off Yemen

A small chemical tanker sailing near Yemen issued a distress call on Friday morning, July 17, and it appears to have been boarded by up to seven armed pirates. The authorities in Somalia and elsewhere are investigating the incident as the vessel appears to be heading toward the Somali coast.

Reports are identifying the tanker as the Asana, apparently managed from South Korea and registered for a company in the Marshall Islands. The ship’s details are unclear, with Equasis listing its flag as “unknown,” while most sources show the vessel registered in Tanzania.

Built in 1992, the ship is reported to be 10,960 dwt. It is 127 meters (417 feet) and has been operating as the Asana for the past three years since 2023.

Read more at The Maritime Executive