Six Indian seafarers are among the 10 crew members aboard the M/V LUTUF, a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel hijacked by armed pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast, raising fresh concerns over maritime security in the Horn of Africa.
The vessel was seized on August 17, about 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district. According to a Somali official, eight armed men boarded the ship and took control before directing it toward the Nugaal coast.
The LUTUF, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was reportedly carrying Turkish weapons, communications equipment and satellite systems destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu. Its crew consists of six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian national and two Serbian security guards.
The hijacking has triggered a security response in the area. Two Turkish-owned vessels approached the hijacked ship, while Turkish helicopters and drones reportedly monitored the vessel. An airstrike later killed four men and wounded two others after a small boat believed to have delivered supplies to the pirates returned to shore. However, the identity of those targeted and their connection to the hijacking have not been independently confirmed.
The condition of the LUTUF’s crew and cargo remained unclear as of Thursday. Turkish authorities had not immediately issued a public statement on the incident.
The latest hijacking highlights the renewed piracy threat off Somalia. The International Maritime Bureau reported that Somali pirates accounted for 94% of all crew taken hostage globally during the first half of 2026, despite overall maritime piracy and armed-robbery incidents falling to their lowest level since 1992.
The incident is also significant for Indian shipping interests, as Indian seafarers continue to serve on foreign-flagged vessels operating through the Gulf of Aden and waters around the Horn of Africa. India’s maritime authorities have issued specific advisories urging Indian seafarers and vessels operating in the region to maintain heightened security precautions.
The fate of the six Indian crew members remains the primary concern as authorities and maritime security forces monitor developments around the hijacked vessel.