Pirates have reportedly hijacked two commercial vessels in waters around the Horn of Africa, raising fresh concerns over maritime security along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden routes. A total of 22 Indian nationals were among the crew members aboard the two vessels and are believed to have been held along with their colleagues.
In the first incident, the Eritrean-flagged oil tanker MT Sibu 1 was carrying 20 crew members, including 16 Indians. The vessel was reportedly seized by six armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen.
The exact date of the hijacking remains unclear, although details of the incident emerged publicly on Thursday. The Directorate of Maritime Administration, which monitors commercial shipping activity, said all 20 people aboard the tanker were safe. However, their current location and condition have not been fully disclosed.
The second incident involved the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel MV Lutuf, which was reportedly hijacked on Monday near Somalia’s Puntland coast. The vessel had 10 crew members on board, six of whom were Indian nationals. According to the Associated Press, pirates subsequently took the ship towards the Nugal coastline.
Reports indicate that the vessel was carrying military-related equipment and was travelling towards a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, Somalia.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns about piracy in a strategically important maritime corridor connecting Asia, Africa and Europe. The Gulf of Aden and waters near Somalia and Yemen remain vital routes for international commercial shipping, making any resurgence in pirate activity a serious security concern.
