Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Pirates Hijack Two Ships Carrying 22 Indians Off Yemen, Somalia
Pirates took control of two ships near Yemen and Somalia.
Together, the ships had 22 Indian workers aboard.
The first ship was an oil-products tanker named MT Sibu 1.
It was hijacked near Yemen on August 20.
Six armed pirates were reported to be on that ship.
The second ship was a cargo vessel called LUTUF.
It was seized near Somalia on August 17 by eight pirates using two small boats.
Officials said the Indian crew members were safe, and no injuries had been reported on LUTUF.
Two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian nationals were hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia.
The Eritrea-flagged tanker MT Sibu 1 was seized in the Gulf of Aden on August 20.
MT Sibu 1 had 20 crew members, including 16 Indians, and six armed pirates reportedly took control.
The Cameroon-flagged cargo ship LUTUF was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast on August 17.
Officials said all Indian crew members were safe; no injuries had been reported aboard LUTUF.
- Who
- Pirates seized two vessels carrying 22 Indian nationals and other crew members.
- What
- An oil-products tanker and a cargo ship were hijacked in separate incidents.
- When
- The hijackings occurred on August 17 and August 20; the incidents were reported by a senior shipping ministry official on Friday, August 21.
- Where
- MT Sibu 1 was seized in the Gulf of Aden about 30 nautical miles off Yemen; LUTUF was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast.
- Why
- The articles do not state the pirates’ motive.
- Indian nationals
- Twenty-two in total: 16 aboard MT Sibu 1 and six aboard LUTUF.
- MT Sibu 1
- An Eritrea-flagged oil-products tanker with 20 crew members.
- MT Sibu 1 seizure
- Hijacked on August 20 in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles off Yemen.
- Pirates aboard MT Sibu 1
- Six armed pirates reportedly took control of the tanker.
- LUTUF
- A Cameroon-flagged cargo ship with 10 crew members, including six Indians.
- LUTUF seizure
- Hijacked on August 17 off Somalia’s Puntland coast by eight pirates using two skiffs and AK-47-type weapons.
- Crew safety
- Indian crew members were reported safe; no injuries had been reported aboard LUTUF.
Sources
22 Indians aboard 2 ships hijacked by pirates off Yemen, Somalia
22 Indians Among Crew On Two Ships Hijacked Off Yemen, Somalia
Armed pirates seize two vessels with 22 Indians on board
Pirates strike twice in 3 days: 22 Indians aboard seized ships off Yemen, Somalia
Pirates hijack two vessels carrying Indians off Yemen, Somalia - Telegraph India
Two vessels with 22 Indian crew members hijacked by pirates off Yemen, Somalia