Indian Government Confirms Safety of 22 Seafarers Following Gulf of Aden Hijackings

The Indian government has confirmed the safety of 22 Indian nationals aboard two foreign-flagged commercial vessels hijacked by Somali pirates over the past week. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that authorities are in active contact with relevant agencies in Somalia to ensure the continued welfare of the crew members.[2][5][6]

The first incident occurred on August 17, when eight armed pirates boarded the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf approximately three nautical miles off the coast of Puntland, Somalia. The vessel, which was reportedly carrying communications equipment and Turkish weapons bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu, had a 10-member crew that included six Indians.[2][3]

Three days later, on August 20, six armed individuals seized the Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1 in the Gulf of Aden, roughly 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen. The tanker was carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indian nationals.[1][2][3]

Before the pirates took full control of the MT Sibu 1, the crew managed to broadcast a distress call on VHF channel 16, alerting the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) to the unauthorized boarding. The vessel had been operating dark, but the crew hastily transmitted a final message reading "PRIRATE ONBOARD HEL" before the ship was redirected toward Bosaso, Somalia.[1][4]

The MT Sibu 1 has a complex operational history. The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned the tanker in December 2025, alleging it belonged to a "shadow fleet" used to transport Iranian petroleum products in evasion of international sanctions.[1][3][4]

The dual hijackings highlight a dramatic resurgence of piracy in the region. According to the International Maritime Bureau, the seizure of the MT Sibu 1 marks at least the 13th vessel attacked off the coast of Somalia or in the Gulf of Aden this year, a sharp increase from the five total incidents recorded throughout 2025.[3][4]

Maritime security analysts attribute the surge to a shift in international naval deployments. With coalition warships increasingly diverted to the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz to counter Houthi missile attacks and monitor Iranian naval activity, the waters off the Horn of Africa have been left more vulnerable to pirate action groups.[1][3]

Diplomatic efforts are currently underway to secure the release of both vessels and their crews. The Indian High Commission in Kenya has formally intervened with Somali authorities, while Turkish drones and naval assets have been observed monitoring the area where the MV Lutuf is believed to be anchored.[1][2][6]