Somalia Ship Hijacking: 6 Indians Among 10 Crew as Pirates Seize Cargo Vessel
Six Indian nationals are among the 10 crew members of a cargo ship hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland earlier this week, a Somali official said. The Cameroon-flagged M/V LUTUF, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was seized on Monday and taken towards the Nugaal coast. The vessel was reportedly carrying Turkish weapons, along with communications and satellite equipment, to a military training facility in Mogadishu.
The ship was captured around three-and-a-half nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district, according to the official, who spoke to The Associated Press.
The 10-member crew includes six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards. Neither Turkish authorities nor India’s Ministry of External Affairs had immediately commented on the incident.
Pirates Move Ship Towards Puntland
Eight pirates, allegedly linked to a group involved in the April 26 hijacking of the M/V Sward, reportedly moved the LUTUF towards the coast near Garmaal in Puntland’s Dangoroyo district.
Two Turkish-owned vessels later approached the hijacked ship, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area, the official said.
On Tuesday, a small boat carrying two men approached the vessel and delivered khat, a stimulant commonly chewed in Somalia. The boat later returned to shore, after which an airstrike reportedly killed four people and injured two others.
The identity of those who carried out the strike was not immediately known. It was also unclear whether the people killed were involved in the hijacking or whether the strike affected the ship or its crew.
The status of the LUTUF, its crew and its cargo remained unclear. The AP said it was unable to independently verify all details provided by the Somali official.
Piracy Activity Shows Signs of Return
The incident has added to concerns over a resurgence of piracy in waters around Somalia. Separately, the US-sanctioned tanker Seamull, also known as SIBU 1, was reportedly seized in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday after six armed men boarded the vessel and allegedly forced it to sail towards Somalia.
The tanker sent a distress call after being approached about 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla in Yemen. The EU’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean said six armed men had boarded and taken control of the vessel.
The US sanctioned the Seamull last year, alleging that it forms part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” involved in transporting Iranian oil through deceptive shipping practices.
Somali piracy declined sharply after peaking in 2011, following increased international naval patrols and improved maritime security. However, a series of attacks and vessel seizures since April has renewed fears that pirate groups are becoming active again.
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