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The US-sanctioned Sibu 1 formerly known as the Seamull was boarded by six armed persons around 136 nautical miles from Al Mukalla, Yemen. The vessel was then diverted to Somalia. There has been no confirmation regarding the condition of the crew.
Vessel SIBU 1, image credit: Juergen Braker
According to UKMTO reports, the incident occurred in the Gulf of Aden, around 136 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen, on 20 August. The tanker transmitted a distress signal and reported an unauthorized vessel approaching. The UKMTO later confirmed via military sources that armed intruders had taken control of the vessel and that its course had been altered to head toward Somalia.
The Seamull was sanctioned in December 2025 by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for transporting Iranian petroleum products such as naphtha and gasoil.
The reported hijacking adds to growing concerns over maritime security in waters off Somalia. Several other vessels have also been reported held hostage in the Somali coast and Somali Basin region, including the Palau-flagged Honour 25, Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged general cargo vessel Sward, Togo-flagged products tanker Eureka, Tanzanian-flagged chemical tanker Asana, and Cameroon-flagged Lutuf.
