Somali pirates have hijacked a Saudi oil tanker with 14 crew on board, reports quoting the European Union Naval Force and a Kenyan maritime official said on Wednesday.
According to Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Assistance Program, the 5,136-ton vessel al Nisr al Saudi was seized on Monday in the Gulf of Aden while sailing from Japan to Jeddah.
The tanker's captain is a Greek and rest of the crew are Sri Lankans, he added.
Cmdr. John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU NAVFOR, said Wednesday the Saudi-owned ship was empty when it came under attack. He says the ship has been taken to Garacad, a well-known pirate stronghold, where the crew is safe.
Vessels are being seized frequently in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean off the African coast despite the strong presence of international naval forces in the region, including from the NATO and the European Union, to protect one of the world's busiest shipping routes.
The pirates step up their venture during March-May when the seas are calmer.
Pirates are currently holding at least eight ships and more than 100 crew, demanding multimillion-dollar ransoms for their release. Most of the gangs are based in northern Somalia's Puntland region.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.