Pirates allegedly hijack chemical tanker Asana in Gulf of Aden off Yemen

A chemical product tanker ship, Asana, is believed to have been hijacked by armed assailants in the Gulf of Aden off the southern coast of Yemen. According to preliminary reports by maritime security sources cited by Reuters, the assailants took control of the vessel on Friday, which prompted a warning from the British navy agency United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).According to the ship tracking data, the incident occurred as the tanker was transiting east, with its next destination shown to be the Somali port of Bosaso. The ship did not have any confirmed flag.The incident occurred around 65 nautical miles south of Yemen's Al Mukalla port, UKMTO said, citing military authorities who reported that the vessel had been boarded by unauthorised personnel.According to a Reuters report, maritime security sources said the assailants were believed to be in control of the Asana.UKMTO said, "Military authorities have reported that a vessel was boarded by unauthorised personnel whilst transiting east in the Gulf of Aden."The incident comes amid heightened maritime security concerns in the waters around Yemen, where commercial shipping has faced repeated threats and attacks in recent years.(This is a developing story. More updates to follow. )Catch the latest world news and top headlines. Download the TOI App.