Agencies | Mogadishu:
Six Indians were among a 10-member crew aboard a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia’s Puntland region earlier this week, according to a Somali official.
The vessel, M/V LUTUF, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was seized on Monday and taken towards the Nugaal coast. According to the official, the ship was carrying Turkish weapons destined for a military training facility in Mogadishu, along with communications and satellite equipment.
The vessel was reportedly seized about three-and-a-half nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district.
The 10-member crew comprised six Indian nationals, one Turkish national and one Georgian national, along with two Serbian security guards.
There was no immediate comment from Turkish authorities on the incident, while India’s Ministry of External Affairs had not immediately responded to requests for information.
According to the Somali official, eight pirates believed to be linked to a group involved in the April 26 hijacking of the M/V Sward took control of the vessel and moved it towards the coast near Garmaal in Puntland’s Dangoroyo district.
Two Turkish-owned vessels subsequently 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, according to the official.
After the boat returned to shore, an airstrike reportedly took place, killing four men and injuring two others.
However, it remained unclear who carried out the strike or whether those killed were involved in the hijacking.
The status of the LUTUF, its crew and its cargo also remained unclear. The Associated Press said it could not independently verify all elements of the account.
The incident comes amid renewed concerns over piracy along the Somali coast after years of relative decline.
In a separate incident on Thursday, a US-sanctioned tanker was reportedly seized in the Gulf of Aden after six armed men boarded the vessel and allegedly forced it to alter course towards Somalia.
The tanker, Seamull, also known as SIBU 1, issued a distress call after being approached approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen.
The EU’s Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean reported that six armed men had boarded the vessel and taken control of it.
The United States sanctioned the Seamull last year, identifying it as part of Iran’s so-called “shadow fleet”, which Washington alleges is involved in transporting Iranian oil through deceptive shipping practices.
Piracy off Somalia declined sharply after reaching a peak in 2011, following years of international naval patrols, improved maritime security and coordinated efforts to protect commercial shipping.
However, attacks have increased again since April, with several vessels reportedly being seized or held hostage.
The latest incidents have renewed concerns among shipping operators and international maritime authorities over the security of one of the world’s strategically important sea routes. The hijacking of the LUTUF, in particular, has also drawn attention because of the presence of Indian nationals among its crew and the uncertainty surrounding the vessel’s current status.
