Armed pirates have seized control of two commercial vessels operating in the maritime corridor stretching from the Gulf of Aden to the coast of Somalia. A total of 22 Indian crew members are trapped aboard the hijacked ships. Following the dangerous double hijacking, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that all Indian nationals are safe and active diplomatic and naval efforts are underway to secure their release.
Foreign Vessels Carrying 22 Indian National Crew Members
Providing official details on the situation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that both targeted ships fly foreign flags. One of the hijacked vessels has 16 Indian sailors on board, while the second vessel carries 6 Indian crew members. Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that according to available information, all the crew members are safe. Indian authorities are maintaining continuous communication with the Indian Navy as well as international maritime agencies to ensure the protection and swift release of the sailors.
First Incident: Hijacking of Oil Tanker 'MT Sea Boo 1' in Gulf of Aden
The first attack took place on August 20 in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen. The oil tanker MT Sea Boo 1 was targeted while navigating through the area. According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a distress call was initiated from Al Mukalla in Yemen. A group of 6 armed pirates boarded the tanker, took operational command, and forcibly diverted the vessel toward Somalia.
Second Attack: Seizure of Equipment Vessel 'M/V Lutuf' Off Somalia
The second incident occurred earlier on August 17 near the Puntland coast of Somalia. The vessel M/V Lutuf was operating with a total crew of 10 members, including 6 Indian nationals. The ship was transporting cargo consisting of weapons, communication systems, and satellite equipment intended for Turkey's military training center. A team of 8 armed pirates hijacked the ship and rerouted it toward the Garmal coast in Puntland. Investigators suspect that this attack was carried out by the same pirate group responsible for hijacking the vessel M/V Sword in April.
