Pirates Hijack Two Vessels Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen and Somalia

New Delhi, August 21, 2026 Two separate piracy incidents involving commercial vessels have raised fresh security concerns in the region, with a total of 22 Indian nationals among the crew members on board. According to officials, both ships were taken over by armed pirates, although all the Indian crew members are reported to be safe. The first incident involved the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, which was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia’s Puntland coast. The vessel had 10 crew members, including six Indians. Three days later, on August 20, the Eritrea-flagged oil-products tanker M.T. Sibu 1, carrying 20 crew members including 16 Indians, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden off the Yemeni coast. Officials said six armed pirates seized control of M.T. Sibu 1, while eight armed men carrying AK-47-type weapons boarded M/V LUTUF using two skiffs. The tanker, also known as Seamull, had issued a distress call before gunmen boarded it and forced the vessel to change course towards Somalia. Describing the situation aboard M/V LUTUF, the official said, "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," The crew includes six Indians, along with one Turkish and one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards. The ship was carrying Turkish weapons, communications and satellite equipment intended for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. India has said it remains in contact with the relevant authorities as efforts continue to monitor the safety of those on board. "Two foreign-flagged vessels were involved. One had 16 Indian nationals on board, while the other had six," ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters. "We are in touch with authorities; all of them are reportedly safe." The incidents have added to wider concerns surrounding the safety of Indian seafarers, particularly as maritime tensions continue to affect key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.