Shipping
Tanker Sibu 1 Seized by Pirates in Gulf of Aden and Redirected to Somalia
The US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1, formerly known as the Seamull, was boarded by six armed persons approximately 136 nautical miles from Al Mukalla, Yemen on 20 August and diverted to Somalia. The vessel, sanctioned in December 2025 by OFAC for transporting Iranian petroleum products, transmitted a distress signal before armed intruders took control. The hijacking adds to escalating maritime security concerns off Somalia, where several other vessels remain held hostage.
