India Raises With Somalia Issue Of Hijacked Vessels Carrying 22 Indian Sailors

India has raised with Somali authorities the hijacking of two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian seafarers, as renewed piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia raises fresh concerns over maritime security.

The Indian High Commission in Kenya said it has taken up the matter with the concerned authorities in Somalia and that all 22 Indian seafarers are reportedly safe. The sailors include 16 Indians aboard the Eritrea flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1 and six aboard the Cameroon flagged M/V Lutuf.

"We have taken up the matter of Indian seafarers onboard vessels MT Sibu (Eritrea flagged) and MV Lutuf (Cameroon flagged) with the concerned authorities in Somalia," the mission said in a post on X. It added that India attaches the "highest importance" to the safety and welfare of its seafaring community.

The MT Sibu 1 hijacking took place on August 20 in the Gulf of Aden, about 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast, according to Indian officials. The tanker has 20 crew members, including 16 Indians. Six armed pirates reportedly boarded the vessel and took control of it before redirecting it towards Somalia.

The second vessel, M/V Lutuf, was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia's Puntland coast. The 10 member crew includes six Indians. Maritime security reports said eight armed men boarded the vessel from two skiffs and took control after the crew initially sought refuge in the vessel's citadel. No injuries have been reported.

The Lutuf was reportedly carrying Turkish weapons, communications and satellite equipment and was bound for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. The vessel was subsequently taken towards Somalia's Nugaal coast.

The incidents come amid a renewed rise in Somali piracy after years of relatively low activity. The Associated Press reported that MT Sibu 1 is the sixth commercial vessel hijacked in the region since April, highlighting growing risks for ships transiting the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean.

India is continuing to coordinate with the relevant authorities and monitor the situation, with the safety of the Indian crew members remaining the immediate priority. Shipping authorities have also sought incident reports and regular updates from the recruitment and placement agency linked to MT Sibu 1.