22 Indian nationals among crews on two hijacked vessels off Yemen and Somalia

Last week, the Indian government said two ships carrying Indian crew members had been hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia. The Ministry of External Affairs says all the Indian nationals are safe and that the government is in touch with the concerned authorities. But the two incidents have also renewed concerns about piracy off Somalia, at a time when shipping in the wider region is already under pressure from the conflict in West Asia.

Indians among crew of two commercial vessels hijacked near Yemen Somalia

The Indian crew members aboard both vessels are safe, according to the information available

wo commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents off Somalia and Yemen, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the region.A senior Indian Shipping Ministry official confirmed the incidents on Friday, August 21, saying the Indian crew members were safe according to the latest available information. M/V LUTUF Hijacked Off SomaliaThe first incident took place on August 17, when the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast.MEA confirms 2 vessels with Indians on board hijacked by pirates in Yemen, Somalia: pic.twitter.com/8KiO3r2W2L— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 21, 2026 According to the Associated Press, the vessel was seized around 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district and was later taken towards the Nugaal coast. Eight armed pirates reportedly boarded the ship using two skiffs.The vessel had 10 crew members, including six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards.Ship Was Carrying Turkish Military EquipmentThe M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite gear reportedly bound for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu.The Associated Press reported that Turkish helicopters and drones were monitoring the area after the hijacking. An airstrike later killed four people and injured two others after a small boat reportedly approached the hijacked vessel. However, the circumstances of the strike and whether those killed were involved in the hijacking could not be independently verified.MT Sibu 1 Seized In Gulf Of AdenThe second incident occurred on August 20, when the Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1 was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles from Yemen’s coast.The tanker was carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indians. The crew also included Syrian, Sudanese and Iraqi nationals, while the nationality of one crew member was yet to be confirmed.IRGC speedboats surrounded the Panama-flagged container ship Euphoria in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. 21 of the 22 crew were Indian. They fired an RPG while the sailors ducked inside.Bridge chairs still empty. Boats right outside the windows. pic.twitter.com/i67iw4RqOk— @Data-Insights (@Sonos12345678) August 21, 2026 Six armed pirates boarded the vessel after an unauthorised craft approached and took control of the ship.Indian Authorities Tracking Both IncidentsIndian authorities are monitoring both cases through the relevant maritime agencies and reporting mechanisms. The Shipping Ministry has said the Indian crew members were safe based on the latest information available.No injuries among the Indian nationals have been reported so far.Piracy Threat Returns To Horn Of AfricaThe two hijackings have renewed concerns over the return of Somali piracy in the waters around the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden.13 Indian Sailors Trapped At Ukraine Port As Black Sea Attacks Intensify - VIDEONews On AIR reported that Somali pirates have carried out multiple attacks in the region this year, with several commercial vessels already being held by pirate groups. The latest incidents come amid heightened regional instability and continuing security concerns affecting international shipping routes.With the Gulf of Aden serving as a crucial maritime route connecting the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and Suez Canal, the latest attacks could further increase pressure on shipping and maritime security agencies operating in the region.

Two commercial vessels with a total of 22 Indian nationals on board have been hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, according to officials and maritime security reports.Tanker boarded by six armed personsThe Seamull tanker, also known as SIBU 1, has 16 Indians among its 20-member crew. The vessel issued a distress call after it was approached 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, according to shipping monitor Vanguard."The tanker has reportedly been boarded by six armed persons, who are now in control of the vessel and redirecting it towards Somalia," said the EU's Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO).Reports said the crew was safe and the vessel's movements were being monitored.Mumbai 26/11 Terror Attack Case: Trial Against 6 Absconding Accused Moves Closer As Police Begin Proclamation ProcessThe United States sanctioned the Seamull tanker in December last year, identifying it as one of the vessels in Iran's "shadow fleet" accused of exporting Iranian oil through deceptive shipping practices.The tanker is among four vessels operated by UAE-based Qatrat Alnada Almasi Ship Management that transported Iranian petroleum products, including naphtha and gasoil, on multiple occasions and called at Houthi-controlled ports in Yemen.Six Indians aboard vessel seized off SomaliaIn a separate incident, the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF was hijacked off Somalia's Puntland coast on Aug 17.The vessel has six Indian nationals among its 10-member crew and was carrying Turkish military equipment as well as communications and satellite equipment, according to an AP report citing a Somali official.The condition of the crew remains unclear.Also Watch:Somali piracy resurgesThe hijackings come amid a reported resurgence in Somali piracy, with several merchant vessels being held by pirate groups in the region.Piracy was widespread off Somalia in the 2000s and peaked in 2011 before international naval deployments and new security measures for commercial shipping helped curb attacks.However, attacks have surged again since April. Five cargo ships are currently being held hostage, with the latest vessel seized near the Somali coast on Monday.Authorities and maritime security agencies continue to monitor the situation and assess the safety of the Indian crew members.

The Indian crew members aboard both vessels are safe, according to the information available

Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, a senior shipping ministry official said Friday.The Indian crew members aboard both vessels are safe, according to the latest information available, the official said.The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker M.T. Sibu 1, carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indians, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on August 20, about 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast, the official said.The crew also includes one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi national, while the nationality of another seafarer has yet to be confirmed.A second vessel, the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia's Puntland coast, according to the official. The vessel has 10 crew members, including six Indians.The Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) in a post on X raised concerns over "dangers faced by Indian seafarers amid the Iran war."It released footage of what it claimed to be a hijacking of "a vessel carrying 22 crew members, including 21 Indians, in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22."The footage was posted on Friday and it was unclear if the FSUI was talking of a separate hijacking or the latest ones.The shipping ministry official quoted above said, "As reported by Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) agency - S K S Krishi Marine Services (Opc) Private Limited, six armed pirates are presently onboard the vessel (M.T. Sibhu-1) and have taken control of the vessel."The RPSL agency has been advised to submit an incident report and subsequent periodic updates through the e-Navik online marine casualty reporting system, the official said.Maritime tracking information indicates the tanker was approached by an unauthorised vessel before control of the ship was lost. The incident occurred as piracy activity off Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden has increased this year.A second vessel, the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia's Puntland coast, according to the official and maritime security reports. The vessel has 10 crew members, including six Indians."The vessel is reported to have been boarded by eight pirates, armed with AK-47 type weapons and operating from two skiffs."The crew initially mustered in the citadel. However, the pirates gained access and subsequently brought them to the bridge. The vessel is currently under pirate control. No injuries have been reported thus far," he said.The vessel was seized about 3½ nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland's Eyl district and was subsequently taken toward Somalia's Nugaal coast, according to a Somali official cited by The Associated Press. The crew includes six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards.Cargo ship M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons, communications, and satellite equipment and destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. The 10-person crew included nationals from India, Turkey, Georgia, and Serbia.The hijackers - eight armed men suspected of involvement in a previous hijacking - steered the ship toward the Nugaal coast.The renewed threat adds to security pressures already facing commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean region, where vessels have also had to contend with attacks linked to the conflict in Yemen.The two hijackings also come as Indian seafarers face heightened security concerns elsewhere in the region, including the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States have disrupted one of the world's most important shipping corridors.The developments are particularly significant for India, which has become the world's second-largest supplier of seafarers after the Philippines. The 2026 BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report estimates that India supplies 311,936 seafarers, underscoring the country's large exposure to risks affecting merchant crews worldwide.

Two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian nationals were hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia. While all 20 crew members aboard the M.T. Sibu 1 were reported safe, six Indians were among 10 crew members aboard the M/V LUTUF hijacked off Somalia.