Archive · 21 Aug 2026
22 Indians Aboard Ships Hijacked Near Yemen, Somalia
Two ships were taken over by armed people near Yemen and Somalia.
One ship is called Sibu 1, and it is also known as Seamull.
It has 20 crew members, including 16 Indians.
The ship sent a distress signal and was reportedly taken toward Somalia.
The other ship is called M/V LUTUF and has 10 crew members, including six Indians.
Reports say it was carrying military and communications equipment.
Some sources said the crews were safe, but the condition of the LUTUF crew was unclear in another report.
The incidents happened while piracy near Somalia was reportedly increasing.
The Eritrea-flagged oil-products tanker Sibu 1, also known as Seamull, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen.
Sibu 1 has 20 crew members, including 16 Indians, and was reportedly boarded by six armed people and redirected toward Somalia.
The Cameroon-flagged general-cargo carrier M/V LUTUF was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast on August 17.
LUTUF has 10 crew members, including six Indians, and was reportedly carrying Turkish military, communications, and satellite equipment.
The incidents come amid a reported resurgence in Somali piracy, with five cargo ships reportedly being held hostage.
- Who
- The crews include 22 Indian seafarers: 16 aboard Sibu 1 and six aboard M/V LUTUF; armed persons and pirate groups are linked to the reported hijackings.
- What
- Two commercial vessels were hijacked in separate incidents, with Sibu 1 reportedly boarded by six armed persons and redirected toward Somalia.
- When
- Sibu 1 was hijacked on Thursday; M/V LUTUF was hijacked on Monday, August 17. The articles do not provide a calendar date for the Sibu 1 incident.
- Where
- Sibu 1 was approached 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla in Yemen’s Gulf of Aden, while M/V LUTUF was seized off Somalia’s Puntland coast.
- Why
- The specific motives were not stated; the hijackings occurred amid a reported resurgence in Somali piracy.
- Indian seafarers aboard
- 22 in total: 16 on Sibu 1 and six on M/V LUTUF
- Sibu 1 crew
- 20 people, including 16 Indians
- Sibu 1 location
- 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen
- Sibu 1 status
- Reportedly boarded by six armed persons and redirected toward Somalia
- M/V LUTUF crew
- 10 people, including six Indians
- M/V LUTUF cargo
- Turkish military equipment, communications equipment, and satellite equipment
- Reported hostage situation
- Five cargo ships were reportedly being held hostage
