At least 16 Indian seafarers are now being held hostage by pirates around the Gulf of Aden and waters off the Horn of Africa, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) has confirmed.
Their ships were hijacked between April 24 and July 17 this year. The MT Asana was the last one to be hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, about 65 nautical miles south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, on July 17. Of the 22 crew members on board, 11 were Indians. The tanker is now reportedly sailing towards Somalia, the DGMA has said.
The MT Eureka was hijacked on May 2 this year off the Somali coast. There were four Indians among the 12 crew members. The MT Honour was also taken off Somalia on April 24. The tanker had a single Indian in the 17-member crew.
Another vessel, the MV Sward, was also hijacked off the Somali coast. There were no Indian seafarers on board this ship, which has been put under monitoring by international naval forces.
"The above incidents that the threat of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the adjoining waters remains significant and warrants the need for strict compliance with internationally accepted ship security measures," the DGMA has said.
"It is pertinent to note that in the case of MV Golden Arsenal, the vessel could not be hijacked (on July 1, 2026) owing to the vigilance and preparedness of the crew. The crew maintained an effective lookout, promptly implemented the Ship Security Plan, secured themselves in the citadel, established timely communication with the Indian Navy and other maritime security authorities, and strictly followed the prescribed emergency response procedures," it said.
"The incident highlights that vigilant watchkeeping, early detection of suspicious activity and adherence to established ship security procedures are critical in preventing such vessel hijacking and ensuring the safety of the crew," the DGMA added.
The Indian Navy reacted promptly after receiving an alert from the MV Golden Arsenal and vectored a warship to its location. The pirates fled after the warship's helicopter approached. Marine commandos later boarded the ship and sanitised it before the crew left the citadel.
The authority has thereby advised all stakeholders to implement the latest edition of Best Management Practices (BMP5) for protection against piracy and maritime security threats. Vessels are to maintain proper lookout, be vigilant and in case of any piracy attack, all crew are to secure themselves in the citadel and establish communication requesting shore assistance.
Mariners have also been asked to carry out comprehensive ship security risk assessments before entering the High Risk Area (HRA). They are also to ensure that Ship Security Plans are updated and implemented effectively.
Vessels have also been advised to register their transits with the appropriate maritime security reporting centres and maintain regular reporting as mentioned in BMP5.
"Ensure that citadel arrangements, emergency communications, access control, lookout arrangements and anti-boarding measures are fully operational prior to entering the HRA. Conduct piracy drills and security briefings for all crew members before entering the affected area and ensure that the crew is familiar with emergency response procedures," the DGMA has said.
It has further urged those in charge of the vessels to monitor maritime security advisories issued by the DGMA, Indian Navy, IMO, UKMTO and MSCHOA and schedule voyages accordingly.
"Shipowners, operators and Masters are advised to exercise the highest degree of vigilance while navigating through the Gulf of Aden, Southern Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and waters off the Horn of Africa to ensure strict compliance with the latest BMP5 recommendations and applicable international maritime security guidance," the DGMA has said.
Picture Courtesy: IANS
