Two Vessels With 22 Indians On Board Hijacked By Pirates In Yemen, Somalia

NEW DELHI, Aug 21: Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked by pirates in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, with the Indian crew members reported to be safe, a senior Shipping Ministry official said on Friday.

An Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker, M T Sibu 1, carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indians, was hijacked by armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden on August 20. The vessel was reportedly intercepted around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen.

In a separate incident, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship with 10 crew members, including six Indians, was hijacked by pirates off the Puntland coast of Somalia on August 17, the official said.

According to the latest information available to Indian authorities, all 22 Indian crew members aboard the two vessels are safe.

The incidents have raised fresh concerns over maritime security in waters off Yemen and Somalia, where commercial shipping has faced piracy and other security threats. The Gulf of Aden is a major international shipping route connecting the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.

Indian authorities are monitoring the situation and are in touch with the relevant agencies regarding the safety of the crew members. Further details about the circumstances surrounding the hijackings and the identity of the groups involved were not immediately available.

The latest incidents come amid continuing security concerns for merchant vessels operating along key shipping routes in the region. (Agencies)