Two tankers with 22 Indians on board hijacked by pirates off Yemen, Somalia

India confirmed on Friday that all 22 Indian seafarers held hostage by pirates on two foreign-flagged cargo vessels off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia are safe. The government has stated that authorities are actively engaged in ensuring the welfare and protection of the crew members, who were taken captive in separate incidents earlier this month. The first incident occurred on August 20, when the Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1 was hijacked by six armed pirates approximately 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, which carried 20 crew members, included 16 Indian nationals along with three others of unspecified nationalities, Syrian, Sudanese, and Iraqi. According to maritime tracking data, the ship was approached by an unauthorized vessel before losing control. A representative from the recruitment agency S K S Krishi Marine Services (Opc) Private Limited confirmed that six armed pirates are currently aboard the vessel and have taken charge of it. The agency has been instructed to file an incident report and provide regular updates via the e-Navik online marine casualty reporting system. The second hijacking took place on August 17, involving the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf, which was seized by eight pirates near Marraya in Somalia’s Puntland region. The vessel, which had a crew of 10, included six Indian nationals alongside a Turkish national, a Georgian citizen, and two Serbian security personnel. The pirates, believed to be operating from two small boats, boarded the ship and forced the crew to relocate to the bridge before assuming control. The MV Lutuf was reported to be carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment, and satellite gear destined for a military training facility in Mogadishu. The pirates, suspected of prior involvement in similar incidents, directed the vessel toward Somalia’s Nugaal coast. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs, through its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed the presence of the 22 Indian seafarers on the two vessels and emphasized the government’s commitment to their safety. He noted that the welfare of Indian seafarers is a priority and that diplomatic channels are being used to coordinate with relevant authorities in the region. Additionally, the Indian High Commission in Kenya has taken action by engaging with Somali officials regarding the situation on the Sibu 1 and Lutuf. The incidents highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Indian seafarers operating in volatile regions such as the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa. With India being the world’s second-largest provider of seafarers after the Philippines, the risk to its maritime workforce remains a critical concern. The 2026 BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report estimates that India contributes nearly 311,936 seafarers globally, underscoring the nation’s deep integration into international shipping networks. This increased exposure makes Indian crews particularly vulnerable to piracy and other security threats in the region. Security experts warn that the recent hijackings coincide with a broader escalation of instability in the area, driven by factors including the ongoing conflict in Yemen and rising tensions between regional powers. The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) recently expressed alarm over the dangers facing Indian seafarers, citing footage purportedly showing a vessel with 22 crew members, including 21 Indians, being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. While it remains unclear whether this footage relates directly to the current incidents, it reflects growing concerns about the safety of Indian mariners in high-risk zones.