Six Indians Aboard Cargo Ship Hijacked by Pirates off Somalia

The Cameroon-flagged general cargo vessel M/V LUTUF was seized by armed pirates on 17 August 2026 off Marraya in Somalia’s Puntland region. Six Indian nationals are among the 10 hostages on board, along with one Turkish national, one Georgian national, and two Serbian security guards.

Hijacking of M/V LUTUF

The vessel was boarded about 3.5 to 4 nautical miles off the coast in the Eyl district of Puntland. The ship was later directed towards the Nugaal coast near Garmaal in Dangoroyo district.

The vessel is owned by Polar Movement Shipping and was carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment, and satellite equipment bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu.

Piracy off the Somali Coast

Somalia’s coastline along the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean has remained linked with maritime piracy since the late 2000s. Puntland, a semi-autonomous region in north-eastern Somalia, has repeatedly featured in piracy-related incidents because of its long and difficult-to-police shoreline.

Modern piracy in the region has involved armed boarding of merchant vessels, hostage-taking, and diversion of ships to coastal anchorages. International naval patrols have operated in the wider area, including the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean.

Related Vessel and Security Response

Local authorities linked the hijackers to a pirate group previously involved in the 26 April 2026 hijacking of the M/V Sward. Two Turkish-owned vessels approached the M/V LUTUF, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored its location.

Reports on an 18 August 2026 drone strike on a boat that delivered khat to the vessel remain conflicting. Some local media stated that four pirates were neutralised, while other defence reports stated that four people were killed.

Important Facts for Exams

• Somalia lies on the Horn of Africa and has a long maritime boundary along the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.
• Puntland is a semi-autonomous region in north-eastern Somalia with its capital at Garowe.
• Merchant ships carrying weapons, communications equipment, and satellite equipment often require security escorts in high-risk maritime zones.
• Hostage-taking at sea is a recognised feature of piracy cases in the western Indian Ocean.

Hostage Situation

The physical safety and exact status of the six Indian nationals and the other crew members remain unconfirmed. Investigations into the hijacking and the reported drone strike are continuing.