Pirates board tanker off Somalia in biggest escalation since 2024

A vessel of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (front) guards a Japanese cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia against piracy.

Photo credit: Pool

Pirates boarded a Malta-flagged products tanker off Somalia on Thursday, but the crew took refuge in a fortified safe room and remain in control of the vessel, maritime security sources said.

A burst of armed attacks on vessels in the region - including the first involving suspected Somali pirates in a year - has reignited concerns for shipping lanes used to transport critical energy and goods to global markets.