By Horseed

The MT Asana was seized off Yemen and is now anchored off Puntland’s coast. Its declared cargo was crude oil allegedly destined for Bosaso a port with no operational refinery. A Horseed Media investigation has uncovered a trail of inconsistencies raising serious questions about the vessel’s true mission.

BOSASO, Somalia — When the Tanzanian-flagged tanker MT Asana transmitted a distress call in the Gulf of Aden on 17 July, the incident initially appeared to be another piracy attack in one of the world’s most dangerous shipping corridors. But as the vessel resurfaced days later anchored off Somalia’s northeastern coast under the control of suspected Somali pirates, a far more complex story began to emerge.

Public records, shipping documents and interviews conducted by Horseed Media reveal a voyage riddled with unanswered questions: a cargo that appears commercially implausible, conflicting accounts of the crew, previous regulatory violations in Pakistan, and allegations yet to be independently verified linking the hijacking to broader regional smuggling networks.

Pirates Take Control

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the tanker was boarded by unauthorized armed men while sailing south of Yemen’s Mukalla. Maritime security firm Ambrey assessed the attackers to be Somali pirates and noted that the vessel was operating without an armed security team. A South Korean naval vessel was dispatched toward the area.

UKMTO later confirmed that the ship had been forced into Somali waters and officially classified the incident as a hijacking.

Residents in Puntland later told Reuters that the vessel is currently anchored off the Puntland coast under pirate control. One resident, identifying himself as a former pirate, said the ship carried 20 crew members, including eight Germans and 10 Filipinos. Another witness in Caluula reported seeing supplies transported to the vessel.

Germany’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment, citing its longstanding policy of not discussing kidnappings involving German nationals abroad.

A Cargo That Defies Commercial Logic

The vessel’s declared cargo raises perhaps the biggest mystery.

Information obtained by Horseed Media from reliable maritime sources indicates that MT Asana loaded crude oil in Karachi, Pakistan, with Bosaso listed as its declared destination.

That declaration immediately raises questions.

Somalia currently has no operational oil refinery capable of processing imported crude oil. The country imports refined petroleum products such as diesel, gasoline and aviation fuel not crude.

Equally striking is the silence surrounding ownership.

Nearly a week after the hijacking, no Somali fuel importer, energy company or commercial operator has publicly claimed ownership of the cargo, an extraordinary absence in a trade where ownership is normally asserted immediately following a piracy incident.

The vessel itself also fits the profile of ships commonly associated with opaque regional trading networks rather than mainstream international energy companies.

MT Asana (IMO 9035838) is a 10,960-deadweight oil and chemical tanker, built in 1992 and sailing under the Tanzanian flag. Aging vessels operating under flags of convenience frequently serve niche cargo markets where ownership structures and charter arrangements are often difficult to trace.

Earlier Red Flags in Karachi

The ship had already attracted official attention before leaving Pakistan.

In May, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) inspected the vessel while docked at Karachi Port.

Authorities fined the operating company 500,000 Pakistani rupees after discovering that a Syrian crew member was sailing with an expired seaman’s book while additional flag-state documentation was missing.

Investigators summoned the ship’s captain, while the crew member reportedly admitted failing to renew his documentation.

Importantly, Pakistani authorities did not detain the vessel, nor did they accuse it of criminal activity.

Nevertheless, the inspection established that MT Asana had already been flagged for documentation irregularities weeks before embarking on a voyage whose declared destination now appears commercially questionable.

Unverified Claims of Houthi Involvement

Horseed Media has obtained information from sources familiar with the operation alleging that Houthi elements in Yemen may have assisted the hijacking after discovering the vessel’s cargo declaration was false.

The same sources claim:

• Seven pirates boarded the tanker.
• One allegedly drowned after falling overboard.

These claims have not been independently verified.

Neither the Houthi movement, Puntland authorities nor international naval forces operating in the Gulf of Aden have confirmed any such involvement.

At this stage, the allegations remain attributed to reporting rather than established fact.

Even so, maritime security analysts have long observed growing overlap between Houthi-controlled smuggling routes and Somali pirate logistics along both sides of the Gulf of Aden, particularly as international naval resources shifted toward countering Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

Anchored Near Jiifla

Horseed Media sources say MT Asana is currently anchored near Jiifla, between Eyl and Gara’ad, an area previously used to hold hijacked commercial vessels while ransom negotiations take place.

The investigation also suggests the tanker was approached by MV Sward, another vessel reportedly under pirate control.

Horseed Media sources further allege that MV Sward has transported chemicals and agricultural fertilizer linked to Kenyan commercial interests.

These allegations remain unverified.

What is documented is that MV Sward itself was hijacked in April after being boarded by pirates operating from multiple skiffs. Security analysts later reported that the hijackers established an extensive shore-based logistics network capable of sustaining prolonged hostage negotiations.

The Eyl-Garacad coastline has become one of Somalia’s most important piracy anchorages due to its isolated geography, limited government presence and well-established resupply networks.

Captured vessels are frequently repurposed as floating bases from which pirates launch additional attacks hundreds of miles offshore.

Piracy Resurges Along Somalia’s Coast

The hijacking of MT Asana marks the latest chapter in a resurgence of Somali piracy after nearly a decade of relative decline.

Maritime security agencies report that at least four commercial vessels have fallen into pirate hands during the current wave of attacks.

Among them are:

• MT Honour 25
• MV Sward
• MT Eureka
• MT Asana

The operators of MT Eureka, a Togolese-flagged tanker carrying diesel from the United Arab Emirates, reportedly demanded $10 million in ransom.

Meanwhile, UKMTO recorded multiple attacks throughout April, May and June, while the Joint Maritime Information Centre recently elevated the regional piracy threat level to “Severe.”

Analysts point to several contributing factors:

• Puntland  forces remain heavily engaged in operations against ISIS militants in the Bari region, reducing coastal surveillance capacity.
• International naval assets have increasingly shifted toward protecting Red Sea shipping from Houthi missile attacks.
• Rising global energy prices have increased the perceived value of petroleum cargoes, making tankers attractive targets.

The Questions That Remain

Despite growing international attention, the central questions surrounding MT Asana remain unanswered:

• Who actually owns the crude oil cargo?
• Why was crude oil reportedly consigned to Bosaso, where no refinery exists?
• Who chartered a 34-year-old Tanzanian-flagged tanker for such a voyage?
• How many foreign nationals are truly aboard the vessel?
• If Bosaso was never the intended destination, where was the tanker actually headed?

The pirates have yet to issue a ransom demand or publicly identify their objectives.

That silence may prove to be the most revealing clue of all.

If the vessel’s declared cargo and destination were never genuine, those now holding MT Asana may still be trying to determine exactly what they have captured.