22 Indian nationals among crews of two vessels hijacked off Yemen, Somalia
Sixteen Indians were aboard the MT Sibu 1 hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, while six were among the crew of the M/V LUTUF seized off Somalia’s Puntland coast
Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia. Sixteen Indians were aboard the MT Sibu 1, which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, while six others were among the crew of the M/V LUTUF, captured off Somalia's Puntland coast.
16 Indians aboard hijacked tanker
The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1 was recently hijacked by six armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles off Yemen.
All 20 crew members were reported safe, according to a report prepared by the Directorate of Maritime Administration, as reported by the Hindustan Times.
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The report further stated that the crew comprised 16 Indian nationals, one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi national. The nationality of one seafarer had not yet been confirmed.
The Recruitment and Placement Service Licence agency has been asked to submit an incident report and subsequent periodic updates through the e-Navik online marine casualty reporting system, the report said.
Sumit Kant Singh of SKS Krishiv Marine Services said his company had recruited four crew members and provided their details to the Directorate of Maritime Administration.
LUTUF carrying weapons seized off Somalia
Meanwhile, the Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel M/V LUTUF was seized by Somali pirates off Somalia's Puntland coast on Monday (August 17).
According to a Somali official, the vessel was later moved towards Puntland's Nugaal coast. It was carrying weapons from Turkey, along with communications and satellite equipment.
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The vessel was seized about three and a half nautical miles from Marraya, in Puntland's Eyl district, the official told The Associated Press. He spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to publicly discuss sensitive information.
Six Indians among 10-member crew
The crew consisted of 10 people, including six Indian nationals. The others were one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards.
Eight pirates, believed to be members of a group previously involved in the hijacking of the M/V Sward on April 26, moved the vessel towards the coast near Garmaal in Puntland's Dangoroyo district.
Turkish forces monitor hijacked vessel
Two Turkish-owned vessels later approached the ship, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area, the official said.
On Tuesday (August 18), a small boat carrying two men approached the vessel and delivered khat, a stimulant commonly chewed in Somalia, he said.
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After the boat returned to shore, an airstrike followed, killing four men and wounding two others, the official said.
There was no immediate statement from Turkish authorities regarding the reported hijacking.
(With agency inputs)