Sudden Course Change: Oil Tanker Hijacked Off Yemen’s Coast and Diverted Toward Somalia

Misbar’s team at Alaraby TV tracked the location of the hijacked oil products tanker EUREKA, bearing IMO number 1022823, near the East African region based on the last signal received approximately 13 hours and 40 minutes before the time of reporting, after Yemeni coast guard forces confirmed it had been seized on Saturday.

Navigation data from MarineTraffic show the vessel was in a “laden” state and moving at a slow speed of about 5 knots, heading south (bearing 152 degrees), away from the Yemeni coast toward Somalia.

Analysis of the Hijacking Route of the EUREKA Tanker

Tracking data from Saturday, May 2, 2026, show a sharp and sudden deviation in the vessel’s route, as it made a complete turn to cross the Gulf of Aden, with dotted tracking lines indicating a disruption in its automatic identification system transmission.

This deviation occurred after the tanker reached the coast of Shabwah Governorate, near the area of Bir Ali, on April 30 at 10:46 a.m.

Timeline of the Tanker’s Voyage

The vessel’s route had previously appeared routine and stable. In late April, it sailed along the coasts of Oman and eastern Yemen after departing a waiting zone near the port of Sohar in Oman on April 21.

The voyage originally began on March 24, when the tanker left the port of Fujairah at 03:43 local time.

Vessel Identity and Management

Technically, the tanker, built in 2006, is operated by Royal Shipping Lines Inc., headquartered in the Hamriyah Free Zone in Sharjah.

Yemeni authorities announced that the oil tanker M/T EUREKA was hijacked off the coast of Shabwah Governorate on Saturday in an armed raid carried out by nine Somali gunmen, who redirected the vessel — carrying 2,800 tons of diesel — toward the northeastern coast of Somalia.

The Yemeni coast guard said in a statement that the limited capabilities of its short-range patrol boats prevented it from pursuing the tanker, which was nearing Somali territorial waters by Sunday morning. It added that the crew of 12 sailors, of Egyptian and Indian nationalities, remains under the control of the hijackers.

The statement also noted that coordination with international partners has so far been limited to tracking the vessel’s location without direct intervention, calling for increased international support to protect maritime navigation. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident so far.

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