Two business vessels carrying 22 Indian crew members have been hijacked by armed pirates in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia this week, with the sailors reported secure to this point, in line with a senior delivery ministry official. The Eritrea-flagged MT Sibu 1, carrying 16 Indians amongst 20 crew members, was seized within the Gulf of Aden on August 20, round 30 nautical miles off Yemen, whereas the Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, with six Indians amongst its 10-member crew, was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast on August 17.The MT Sibu 1 was taken over by six armed pirates after an unauthorised vessel approached the tanker, whereas eight armed pirates working from two skiffs boarded the M/V LUTUF off Puntland. Each vessels stay below pirate management, whereas no accidents have been reported among the many crew.
Tanker with 16 Indians hijacked off Yemen
The Eritrea-flagged oil merchandise tanker MT Sibu 1 was hijacked within the Gulf of Aden on August 20, about 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast. It was carrying 20 crew members, together with 16 Indians, one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi nationwide, whereas the nationality of one other crew member is but to be confirmed.Maritime monitoring data signifies that the tanker was approached by an unauthorised vessel earlier than management of the ship was misplaced.The delivery ministry official mentioned, “As reported by Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) company – S Okay S Krishi Marine Providers (Opc) Non-public Restricted, six armed pirates are presently onboard the vessel (M.T. Sibhu-1) and have taken management of the vessel.”The RPSL company has been suggested to submit an incident report and subsequent periodic updates by means of the e-Navik on-line marine casualty reporting system.
M/V LUTUF seized off Somalia
The Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF was hijacked on August 17, round 3½ nautical miles off Marraya in Somalia’s Puntland area. The vessel had 10 crew members, together with six Indians, one Turkish nationwide, one Georgian nationwide and two Serbian safety guards.Eight armed pirates, reportedly carrying AK-47-type weapons and travelling in two skiffs, boarded the vessel. The crew initially took shelter within the citadel, however the pirates gained entry and moved them to the bridge earlier than taking management of the ship.“The vessel is reported to have been boarded by eight pirates, armed with AK-47-type weapons and working from two skiffs.“The crew initially mustered within the citadel. Nonetheless, the pirates gained entry and subsequently introduced them to the bridge. The vessel is at present below pirate management. No accidents have been reported to this point,” he mentioned.The hijackers, suspected of involvement in a earlier hijacking, subsequently steered the vessel in direction of Somalia’s Nugaal coast. The ship was carrying Turkish weapons, communications and satellite tv for pc gear certain for a Turkish navy coaching facility in Mogadishu.
Indian seafarers face heightened regional dangers
The dual hijackings come amid renewed safety considerations for business delivery within the Pink Sea, Gulf of Aden and wider Indian Ocean. Vessels within the area have confronted each piracy threats and assaults linked to the battle in Yemen.
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The Ahead Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) individually raised considerations over the “risks confronted by Indian seafarers amid the Iran battle” and shared footage it claimed confirmed a vessel carrying 22 crew members, together with 21 Indians, being hijacked within the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. It was unclear whether or not the footage associated to a separate incident or the newest hijackings.India is the world’s second-largest provider of seafarers after the Philippines. The 2026 BIMCO-ICS Seafarer Workforce Report estimates that India provides 311,936 seafarers, underscoring the dimensions of the nation’s publicity to maritime safety threats worldwide.
