Archive · 22 Aug 2026
India Raises Somalia Hijackings Involving 22 Indian Sailors
Two ships carrying Indian sailors were hijacked near Somalia and Yemen.
India contacted authorities in Somalia about the sailors’ safety.
One ship is called MT Sibu and has 16 Indian sailors.
The other ship is called MV Lutuf and has six Indian sailors.
MT Sibu was hijacked on August 20.
MV Lutuf was hijacked on August 17.
Officials said all 22 Indian sailors were reportedly safe.
India said it considers the safety of its sailors very important.
India raised with Somali authorities the hijacking of two commercial vessels carrying 22 Indian sailors.
MT Sibu reportedly has 16 Indian seafarers among its 20 crew members.
MV Lutuf reportedly has six Indian seafarers among its 10 crew members.
MT Sibu was hijacked on August 20 in the Gulf of Aden, about 30 nautical miles off Yemen.
MV Lutuf was hijacked on August 17 off Somalia’s Puntland coast, while all Indian seafarers were reportedly safe.
- Who
- The Indian government, Somali authorities, and 22 Indian seafarers aboard MT Sibu and MV Lutuf.
- What
- India raised the hijacking of two commercial vessels with authorities in Somalia.
- When
- MV Lutuf was hijacked on August 17, 2026, and MT Sibu was hijacked on August 20, 2026; India announced its response on August 21.
- Where
- MT Sibu was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden near Yemen, while MV Lutuf was hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast.
- Why
- India sought to address the safety and welfare of the Indian sailors aboard the vessels.
- Indian sailors involved
- 22 in total: 16 aboard MT Sibu and six aboard MV Lutuf.
- MT Sibu crew
- The Eritrea-flagged tanker reportedly had 20 crew members, including 16 Indians.
- MV Lutuf crew
- The Cameroon-flagged vessel reportedly had 10 crew members, including six Indians.
- MT Sibu hijacking
- August 20, about 30 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden.
- MV Lutuf hijacking
- August 17, off Somalia’s Puntland coast.
- Reported condition
- All Indian seafarers were reportedly safe.
- Diplomatic action
- India’s High Commission in Kenya said it raised the matter with concerned Somali authorities.