Yemeni Coast Guard says tanker ASANA was hijacked about 26 nautical miles off Hadramout as naval units and surveillance aircraft track vessel heading toward Somalia.
Armed assailants seized an oil tanker off Yemen's eastern coast on Friday, prompting Yemeni authorities to coordinate with international maritime partners in response, the Yemeni Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard said preliminary information indicated that the tanker was moving slowly southeast toward Somalia.
In a statement, the agency said the oil tanker ASANA was hijacked about 26 nautical miles off the coast of Hadramout province after coming under attack by the group.
It said its operations center immediately began coordinating with international partners and maritime authorities operating in the area to verify the vessel's status and support efforts to ensure the safety of navigation.
Aerial surveillance
According to the latest available information, naval units, including a Yemeni Coast Guard patrol boat, were heading toward the tanker while aerial surveillance missions monitored the situation.
It said it would continue coordinating with relevant partners and closely monitoring developments.
The agency did not disclose the tanker's nationality.
Earlier Friday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a vessel had been boarded by "unauthorised personnel" about 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, while transiting eastbound through the Gulf of Aden.
