The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday, 21 August confirmed that 22 Indian nationals are aboard two foreign-flagged vessels reportedly seized by Somali pirates — one in the Gulf of Aden and another off the Puntland coast of Somalia. The MEA stated that all 22 citizens are currently safe and that Indian authorities are in active contact with relevant maritime and diplomatic bodies.

The Two Vessels and Their Crews

The first ship, MT Sibu 1, an Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker, was reportedly seized on Thursday by six armed pirates approximately 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel was carrying 20 crew members, of whom 16 are Indian nationals, with the remaining crew comprising one Syrian, one Sudanese, and one Iraqi national.

The second vessel, MV Lutuf, was seized off the Puntland region of Somalia. It had 10 sailors on board, including six Indians. Both ships fly foreign flags, meaning they are registered under another country's maritime authority.

What the MEA Said

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, speaking at a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, confirmed the government's awareness of the situation. 'These are two ships flagged abroad, meaning they are flying the flag of another country. There are 22 Indian citizens on board — 16 on one ship and six on the other. What we have learnt so far is that all 22 of our citizens on board are safe. We are in touch with the relevant authorities on this matter so that we can ensure the safety and well-being of our people,' Jaiswal said.

The MEA reiterated that India treats the safety of its seafarers as a matter of high priority, with Indian missions maintaining constant contact with the Ministry of Shipping and maritime authorities in the affected countries.

EU Naval Force Launches Investigation

The European Union's anti-piracy naval force, operating under EU Naval Force Operation Atalanta, confirmed on Friday that it has launched an investigation into the hijacking of MT Sibu 1 and is actively monitoring the vessel. According to the EU force, the tanker initially broadcast a distress call on VHF Channel 16, reporting an unauthorised vessel approaching while sailing westward. The six armed individuals reportedly boarded the tanker, took control, and redirected it toward Somalia.

The EU Naval Force has advised all vessels operating in the area to 'maintain heightened vigilance, adhere to Best Management Practices for Maritime Security, and immediately report any suspicious activity or relevant information to the Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean and United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.'

The Broader Piracy Threat

Somali piracy has long disrupted one of the world's most critical maritime corridors. Incidents in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean have driven up insurance premiums, pushed some shipowners to reroute vessels around South Africa rather than through the Suez Canal, and prompted sustained naval deployments from multiple nations. Somali piracy primarily operates as a hijack-for-ransom enterprise, with onshore networks supplying food, water, fuel, and the narcotic plant khat to armed guards during prolonged ransom negotiations. This is a pattern that has persisted for over two decades despite international counter-piracy operations.

With Indian seafarers among the most exposed globally — India is one of the largest suppliers of maritime crew — incidents such as these reinforce calls for stronger bilateral and multilateral maritime security frameworks in the region.