InternationalFriday, 21 August 2026·The Hindu - National
Piracy off Yemen and Somalia: 22 Indians on board two hijacked vessels
Two vessels were hijacked off Yemen and Somalia in August 2026, with 22 Indian nationals among the crew.
Key highlights
Direct fact
On August 21, 2026, a Shipping Ministry official said two commercial vessels were hijacked by pirates off Yemen and Somalia, including the Eritrea-flagged tanker M T Sibu 1 on August 20 and the Cameroon-flagged cargo ship M/V LUTUF on August 17.
Key specifics
- M T Sibu 1 had 20 crew members, including 16 Indians, and was hijacked around 30 nautical miles off Yemen.
- M/V LUTUF had 10 crew members, including 6 Indians, and was seized off Somalia’s Puntland coast.
- The LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu.
- The hijacked ship was taken toward Puntland’s Nugaal coast, according to the report.
- Officials said the Indian crew members were safe in the latest information available.
Exam lens
International relations and maritime security question type: identify the vessel names, flag states, crew strength and locations. TNPSC may frame a one-liner on piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Somalia’s Puntland coast.