Armed Boarders Damage Merchant Ship Off Yemen as Second Vessel Reports Suspicious Approach

A merchant vessel was illegally boarded by armed personnel off Yemen on Wednesday, prompting a fresh security warning from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organization as another ship reported a suspicious approach in nearly the same area just hours later.

According to UKMTO, the first incident occurred approximately 76 nautical miles south of Balhaf, Yemen. Initial reports described a suspicious small craft approaching the vessel, but a subsequent investigation found that four armed individuals aboard the craft successfully boarded the ship.

In its latest update, UKMTO reclassified the incident as an illegal boarding, saying the unauthorized personnel caused damage to the