Armed men hijack US-sanctioned tanker Sibu 1 with 16 Indian seafarers aboard in Gulf of Aden (Aug 21, 2026, 10:09)

Six armed men have hijacked the US-sanctioned product tanker Sibu 1 in the Gulf of Aden and are diverting the vessel towards Somalia, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The 2001-built, roughly 32,000-dwt tanker was sailing west about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, on 20 August when it issued a distress call on VHF Channel 16 after an unauthorised vessel approached. The armed men boarded Sibu 1, took control of the vessel and redirected it towards Somalia. There are 20 crew members on board, including 16 Indian nationals. All 16 Indian seafarers were confirmed safe by a senior Indian Shipping Ministry official. The nationalities of the remaining four crew members have not been disclosed. Sibu 1, IMO 9204776, was previously named Seamull. It is operating under a claimed Eritrean flag, although the Eritrean registration is listed as false in Equasis. AIS information showed Port Sudan as the vessel's destination before the hijacking. Its cargo at the time of the seizure has not been confirmed. The US imposed sanctions on the tanker in December 2025 under its former name Seamull. At the time, it was Palau-flagged and linked to UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management LLC. US Treasury records state that Seamull had transported petroleum products, including naphtha and gasoil, on multiple occasions and had called at ports in Yemen controlled by the Houthis. [PortNews is a Russia-based maritime trade news service.]