Pirates Hijack Two Vessels Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen and Somalia

Twenty-two Indian nationals are aboard two commercial vessels hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, according to Indian authorities, highlighting renewed security concerns along key shipping routes in the region. The latest information from the Shipping Ministry indicates that all 22 Indian crew members are safe.

The first incident involved the Eritrea-flagged oil-products tanker MT Sibu 1, which was carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indians. The vessel was hijacked on August 20 in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles off Yemen. Six armed pirates reportedly boarded the tanker and took control of it. The remaining crew included nationals of Syria, Sudan and Iraq, while one crew member’s nationality was yet to be confirmed.

Authorities said the crew remained safe, while the vessel’s movements were being monitored. The recruitment and placement agency responsible for the crew has been directed to submit incident reports and regular updates through India’s e-Navik marine casualty reporting system.

The second incident involved the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF, which was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast on August 17. The ship had 10 crew members, including six Indians, as well as one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards.

According to a Somali official, eight pirates armed with AK-47-type weapons boarded the vessel using two skiffs. The crew initially moved to the ship’s secure citadel, but the pirates eventually gained access and took them to the bridge. The vessel remains under pirate control, although no injuries have been reported among the crew.

The LUTUF was reportedly carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite gear bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu. Turkish vessels, helicopters and drones were reported to be monitoring the area. An airstrike later killed four men and wounded two, although responsibility for the strike and the identities of those targeted remain unconfirmed.

The two incidents have renewed concerns over piracy risks in the Gulf of Aden and waters around Somalia, particularly for Indian seafarers working aboard commercial vessels.