A British-flagged oil tanker, the Stolt Apal, was attacked by pirates off Yemen on Sunday, the tanker operator said. The incident, the ninth of its kind reported since the beginning of the year in the Gulf of Aden, occurred 75 nautical miles (about 140 km) from the Yemeni coast, said Stolt Tankers.
The ship was approached by six armed pirates in two fast boats. Despite several warning shots from the Stolt Apal guards , the pirates fired several shots at the tanker. "The guards responded, neutralizing a boat and ending the pursuit," the company said in an email.
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No one was injured and the ship suffered only minor damage. The cargo was not touched and no leaks were found, she added. "A coalition ship responded and the Stolt Apal continued on its way," said Stolt Tankers, without specifying which coalition it was.
Several maritime transport protection missions have been set up in recent years in the region after an outbreak of piracy.