Two Commercial Ships Captured Near Yemen and Somalia; Indian Sailors Unharmed

In a statement released on August 21, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that twenty‑two Indian nationals on board two seized commercial vessels are safe.

The first incident involved the MT Sibu 1, an Eritrean‑flagged oil product tanker, which was boarded by six gunmen roughly 30 miles off Yemen’s shoreline. All sixteen Indian crew members on board were reported secure.

The second hijacking took place off the coast of Puntland, Somalia, where the Cameroon‑flagged MV Lutuf was taken by eight pirates. Six Indian crew members were among the ten persons on the ship.

Both ships displayed foreign flags at the time of the attacks. The ministry emphasized that it remains in regular contact with the relevant maritime authorities and flag‑state governments to ensure the sailors’ welfare and to negotiate a safe release.