Shipping Desk: Somali pirates have once again become a formidable threat in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea regions, defying international naval patrols to seize commercial vessels. The latest incident occurred yesterday, Saturday (May 2, 2026), when the Togo-flagged oil tanker ‘M/T Eureka’ was hijacked off the coast of Shabwa, Yemen.
According to maritime security agencies, pirates have executed three major hijackings with high precision over the past seven days. Prior to yesterday’s incident, on April 26, 2026, they seized control of the Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged commercial vessel ‘MV Sword.’ Just a day before that hijacking, pirates also took a traditional cargo dhow into custody.
Previous Incidents and Current Status
These events follow the hijacking of the fuel tanker ‘Honour 25’ last week, a story previously covered in detail by BusinessToday24. The Palau-flagged tanker, seized on April 21 with 18,000 barrels of oil and 17 crew members, is currently being held under heavy pirate guard between the Hafun and Bandar Beyla regions of Somalia.
Impact on Global Maritime Trade
The European Union Naval Force’s tracking service, the Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa (MSCHOA), issued a statement on Monday confirming that all recent hijackings are ongoing, with pirates moving the vessels to secure hideouts along the Somali coast. The agency has advised all ships operating within 150 nautical miles of the Somali coast, from Mogadishu to Hafun, to maintain maximum alertness.
The hijacking of four vessels in just one week indicates a terrifying resurgence of piracy in the Horn of Africa, creating a new wave of panic for the global shipping industry.
