Armed Skiff Fires on LNG Tanker in High-Seas Attack Off Yemen Coast

ADEN, YEMEN — A commercial Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker was targeted in a high-seas incident off the coast of Yemen after an armed skiff approached the vessel and opened fire, maritime security agencies reported.

According to security advisories issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, the incident occurred in international waters along the critical shipping corridor off Yemen. A small high-speed skiff carrying armed personnel maneuvered toward the LNG tanker, closing the distance before firing shots directly toward the commercial vessel.

Upon detecting the approaching skiff, the vessel’s onboard private maritime security team immediately implemented anti-piracy countermeasures and evasive maneuvers. The armed security detail returned warning shots to deter the assailants, forcing the skiff to abort its approach and retreat from the area.

The vessel's master confirmed that all crew members aboard the LNG tanker were unharmed during the encounter. The tanker sustained no critical structural damage and was able to safely maintain its course under heightened security protocols.

The incident underscores ongoing security challenges for commercial shipping along the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea maritime routes. Navies operating under coalition Task Forces in the region have increased air and naval patrols to protect commercial transit lanes from piracy, armed robbery, and asymmetrical strikes.

Naval authorities and UKMTO have urged all merchant vessels transiting the area to exercise extreme caution, maintain rigorous visual lookouts, and immediately report any suspicious small-craft activity to regional maritime coordination centers.

Maritime security experts emphasize that international cooperation and intelligence-sharing between naval task forces and commercial operators remain vital in safeguarding vital global energy transit lanes against persistent maritime threats.