New Delhi, 21 August
22 Indians Among Crew of Two Commercial Vessels Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia
Two separate hijacking incidents in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia have raised fresh concerns over piracy threats facing commercial shipping in the region.
Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, amid renewed piracy concerns in the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Somali coast, a senior Shipping Ministry official said on Friday, August 21.
The Indian crew members aboard both vessels are reported to be safe, according to the latest information available.
Tanker hijacked off Yemen
The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker M.T. Sibu-1, carrying 20 crew members, was hijacked on August 20, around 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden, according to the official.
The vessel has 16 Indian crew members. The remaining crew includes one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi national, while the nationality of another seafarer is yet to be confirmed.
According to the Shipping Ministry official, the Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) agency S K S Krishi Marine Services (OPC) Private Limited reported that six armed pirates were onboard the vessel and had taken control of it. 22 Indians Among Crew of Two Commercial Vessels Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia
The agency has been directed to submit an incident report and subsequent periodic updates through the e-Navik online marine casualty reporting system, the official said.
Maritime tracking information reportedly showed that the tanker was approached by an unauthorised vessel before communication and control of the ship were lost.
Second vessel hijacked off Puntland
In a separate incident, the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia’s Puntland coast. 22 Indians Among Crew of Two Commercial Vessels Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia
The vessel has 10 crew members, including six Indians. The crew also includes one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards.
According to maritime security reports, eight armed pirates operating from two skiffs boarded the vessel. The attackers were reportedly armed with AK-47-type weapons.
The crew initially moved to the vessel’s citadel, a designated secure area used by seafarers during security threats. However, the pirates later gained access and took the crew to the bridge.
No injuries have been reported so far, according to the official.
The vessel was seized around 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district and was subsequently taken towards Somalia’s Nugaal coast, according to a Somali official cited by The Associated Press.
Vessel was carrying Turkish equipment
Reports indicate that M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite equipment and was bound for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu.
The eight hijackers, who are suspected of being linked to a previous hijacking, reportedly steered the vessel towards the Nugaal coast. 22 Indians Among Crew of Two Commercial Vessels Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia
Renewed piracy concerns in the region
The two incidents have renewed concerns over piracy affecting commercial shipping in the Gulf of Aden, waters off Somalia and the wider Indian Ocean region.
Commercial vessels operating through the region are already facing heightened security risks because of attacks and tensions linked to the conflict in Yemen. The latest hijackings add another layer of concern for shipping companies and thousands of seafarers using the strategically important maritime route.
Indian seafarers are particularly exposed to such risks because of the country’s large presence in the global maritime workforce. The 2026 BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report estimates that India supplies 311,936 seafarers, making it the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines. 22 Indians Among Crew of Two Commercial Vessels Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia
The latest incidents therefore highlight the continuing security challenges faced by Indian crew members working on commercial vessels operating in some of the world’s most strategically important but vulnerable shipping corridors. 22 Indians Among Crew of Two Commercial Vessels Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia