PortandTerminal.com, May 17, 2020

An armed guard team aboard the Stolt Apal vessel is reported to have returned fire, disabling one skiff and ending the pursuit by the pirates.

DUBAI – Stolt Tankers said its vessel the Stolt Apal was attacked by pirates 75 nautical miles off Yemen’s coast on Sunday.

Red oil tanker at sea — **Stolt Tankers said its vessel the Stolt Apal was attacked by pirates 75 nautical miles off Yemen’s coast on Sunday**

The company said six that armed pirates approached the vessel in two speedboats.

“After multiple warning shots were fired by the armed guard team aboard Stolt Apal, the skiffs opened fire on the ship. The armed guard team returned fire, disabling one skiff and ending the pursuit,” Stolt Tankers said.

“The bridge area sustained minor damage from bullets but there were no injuries, no pollution and no cargo impacted on Stolt Apal. A coalition warship responded and Stolt Apal has resumed her voyage.”

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said earlier on Sunday that a vessel came under attack in the Gulf of Aden without providing further details.

According to the coordinates given by the agency, the incident occurred offshore of Yemen’s port of Mukalla.