New Delhi, Aug. 21 -- India said on Friday that all 22 Indian seafarers on board two foreign-flagged merchant vessels hijacked by pirates off the coast of Yemen and Somalia are safe, and authorities are taking steps to ensure their welfare and safety.

The Eritrea-flagged oil products tanker MT Sibu 1, with 16 Indians among its 20-member crew, was hijacked by six armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden, about 30 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen, on August 20.

The Cameroon-flagged cargo ship MV Lutuf, with six Indians among its 10 crew members, was hijacked by eight pirates off Somalia's Puntland coast on August 17. Reports said the Lutuf was carrying Turkish weapons and was taken by the pirates towards the Nugaal coast.

External affairs ...