London — The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced on Friday that a vessel located approximately 15 nautical miles west of Yemen reported an incident while transiting regional waters.

According to UKMTO, the vessel’s crew reported the presence of a small boat approaching their position and subsequently came under gunfire. 

The agency confirmed that the incident was logged and that relevant authorities have been notified.

UKMTO advised ships operating in the area to exercise heightened caution and maintain communication with maritime security channels.

No further details were immediately available regarding the identity of the assailants or the extent of damage sustained by the vessel.

The waters off Yemen remain a high-risk zone for commercial shipping, with repeated warnings issued by international maritime agencies about threats ranging from piracy to conflict-related attacks. 

Friday’s incident underscores ongoing concerns about the safety of vessels navigating near the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden.