Six Indians Among Crew on Cargo Ship Hijacked Off Somalia Coast
Cameroon flagged M/V LUTUF was carrying a 10-member crew and a consignment of weapons and equipment when pirates seized it off Puntland.
MOGADISHU, Aug 20: Six Indian nationals were among a 10 member crew on a Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel seized by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast earlier this week, according to a Somali official.
The M/V LUTUF was reportedly hijacked on Monday after being intercepted about three and a half nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district. The vessel was subsequently taken toward the Nugaal coast, the official said.
The ship is owned by Polar Movement Shipping and was transporting weapons destined for a Turkish military training facility in Mogadishu, along with communications and satellite equipment.
The crew comprised six Indians, one Turkish national, one Georgian citizen and two Serbian security guards, according to the official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
Eight pirates are believed to have seized the vessel. The attackers were reportedly linked to a group previously accused of hijacking the M/V Sward on April 26. The LUTUF was taken toward the coastal area near Garmaal in Puntland’s Dangoroyo district.
The incident has drawn attention from Turkish authorities, with two Turkish-owned vessels later approaching the hijacked ship. Turkish helicopters and drones were also reportedly deployed to monitor the area.
On Tuesday, a small boat carrying two men approached the vessel and delivered khat, a stimulant widely chewed in Somalia, the official said. The boat later returned to shore.
An airstrike subsequently took place, reportedly killing four people and injuring two others. However, details surrounding the operation remain unclear. It could not immediately be established who carried out the strike or whether those killed were connected to the hijacking.
The condition and whereabouts of the LUTUF, its crew and the cargo remained unclear. Turkish authorities had not immediately issued a public statement on the reported seizure.
The Associated Press said it could not independently verify all details provided by the Somali official, including the circumstances of the airstrike and the identities of those involved.
The seizure highlights continuing maritime security concerns along Somalia’s coastline, where pirate groups have previously targeted commercial vessels despite international efforts to curb piracy in the region.
