Pirates Hijack Two Vessels Carrying 22 Indian Crew Members

Pirates have hijacked two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian crew members off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia.

A senior official in the Ministry of Shipping confirmed the incidents on Friday. The vessels were operating in waters that have seen a rise in pirate activity in recent months. Exact locations and the current status of the crew remain under active monitoring by Indian naval and diplomatic channels.

India maintains a naval presence in the region under anti-piracy patrols. Previous incidents have been resolved through a combination of naval intervention, negotiation and coordination with international partners. The safety of the 22 sailors is the immediate priority.

The Gulf of Aden and adjacent waters form a critical shipping corridor for Indian trade and energy imports. Any sustained increase in pirate activity raises insurance costs and transit times for commercial operators. Shipping companies have already begun adjusting routes and security protocols in response to earlier attacks this year.

The Ministry of External Affairs and the Directorate General of Shipping are coordinating with the vessel owners and flag states. Families of the crew members have been informed and are receiving regular updates.

Piracy in the western Indian Ocean had declined sharply after 2012 following coordinated international naval operations. The recent uptick coincides with instability onshore in parts of Yemen and Somalia and with the diversion of naval assets to other theatres. The latest hijackings test whether the existing deterrent framework remains adequate.

Indian authorities have not yet released the names of the vessels or the precise timeline of the seizures. Further details are expected once contact with the ships is established or the location is confirmed by surveillance.