Kathmandu— Two commercial vessels, MT Sibu 1 and MV Lutuf, were hijacked this week in separate incidents near the Horn of Africa, with a combined total of 22 Indian sailors among the crews taken hostage. The Eritrea-flagged MT Sibu 1 was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, while the Cameroon-flagged MV Lutuf was captured off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region on Monday, prompting fears of escalating maritime insecurity and a return to widespread piracy in the area.

Recent Hijackings Spark Alarm

The hijacking of MT Sibu 1, an oil products tanker, occurred after it was boarded by six armed men who diverted the vessel towards Somalia. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported the incident on Thursday, noting that the ship had previously been sanctioned by the US for allegedly transporting Iranian petroleum products.

The MV Lutuf, carrying weapons intended for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, was taken off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region. A Somali official reported the vessel was being moved towards the Nugaal coast, though its current status and that of its cargo remain unknown.

Indian Seafarers Disproportionately Affected

A significant portion of the crews on both hijacked ships are Indian nationals. MT Sibu 1 had a crew of 20, including 16 Indians, while MV Lutuf’s 10-member crew includes six from India. This highlights the vulnerability of Indian seafarers, as India is the world’s second-largest supplier of maritime professionals with over 311,936 working globally.

The recent incidents have resulted in ten deaths of Indian seafarers due to attacks on ships since the start of the Middle East conflict, which began with US-Israeli actions against Iran.

Regional Context and Potential Motives

The hijackings come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with increased attacks on commercial shipping in the region. The specific motives behind these incidents are not yet fully clear, but the capture of a ship previously sanctioned for allegedly carrying Iranian petroleum suggests potential geopolitical factors at play.

The MV Lutuf’s cargo of weapons intended for a Turkish military facility also raises questions about possible targeting based on the vessel's shipment.

Indian and Turkish authorities have yet to issue statements regarding the hijackings, leaving the fate of the ships and their crews uncertain. The incidents underscore the need for increased maritime security measures in the region.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.