Two Commercial Vessels with Indian Crew Hijacked Off Yemen and Somalia
An Eritrea-flagged tanker carrying 16 Indians and a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship with six Indian crew members were seized by pirates in separate incidents this week.
New Delhi1 min read
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Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked by pirates in separate incidents off the coasts of Yemen and Somalia, a senior Shipping Ministry official said on Friday.
An 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, about 30 nautical miles off Yemen, on 20 August.
A Cameroon-flagged cargo ship with six Indians among its ten crew members was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast on 17 August. The vessel was last located in East African waters and is reported to have been carrying Turkish weapons.
Indian authorities are coordinating with international partners and the respective flag states to secure the release of the crew. The incidents mark a resurgence of pirate activity in an area that had seen a sharp decline after years of naval patrols and best-management practices by shipping companies.
The Gulf of Aden and the waters off Somalia remain high-risk zones despite improved security cooperation. Shipping companies have been advised to maintain heightened vigilance, follow recommended transit corridors and report any suspicious activity promptly.
India maintains a naval presence in the region as part of broader anti-piracy efforts. The government is expected to provide further updates as contact is established with the hijackers or as negotiations proceed.
The safety of the crew remains the immediate priority. Families of the Indian nationals have been informed and are being kept updated by the ministry.
