Pirates Hijack Two Vessels Carrying 22 Indian Crew Members

Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked by pirates in the waters off Yemen and Somalia. A senior official in India's Shipping Ministry confirmed the incidents on 21 August 2026.

The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1, with 20 crew members including 16 Indians, was seized by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden roughly 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast on 20 August. A second vessel, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship with six Indians among its 10 crew, was hijacked off Somalia's Puntland coast on 17 August.

Indian authorities are coordinating with international maritime security forces and the flag states. The Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia have seen intermittent pirate activity despite a long-term decline from the peak years of the early 2010s. The recent seizures reverse that trend in the short term.

Crew safety remains the priority. Families of the Indian seafarers have been informed and are receiving updates through the ministry and the relevant shipping companies. The Indian Navy maintains a presence in the region as part of anti-piracy patrols and is monitoring the situation.

The incidents occur against a backdrop of wider maritime tension linked to the conflict involving Iran and attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and adjacent waters. Commercial operators have already altered routes and increased security measures. The hijackings add a further layer of risk for vessels and crews operating near the Horn of Africa.

Shipping Ministry officials said they are working through diplomatic and operational channels to secure the release of the crew members and the vessels. No claims of responsibility or ransom demands have been publicly confirmed.