Two vessels with 22 Indians on board hijacked by pirates near Yemen, Somalia

Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia, officials said Thursday, highlighting a renewed piracy threat in waters off the Horn of Africa.The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker M.T. Sibu 1, carrying 16 Indians among its 20 crew members, was hijacked by six armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden, around 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen.Vessel carrying 16 Indians hijacked in YemenAll 20 crew members were reported safe, according to a report prepared by the Directorate of Maritime Administration, although the latest status of the vessel and crew was awaited.The crew comprises 16 Indian nationals, one Syrian, one Sudanese and one Iraqi national, while the nationality of one seafarer has not yet been confirmed.