Question : HIJACKING OF SHIPS

(a) whether the incidents of hijacking of Indian seafarers and merchant ships by Somali pirates are on the rise over a period of time;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether any Indian ships have been hijacked by the Somali pirates recently;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the steps taken by the Government to secure and release the Indian ships/sailors;

(e) whether the Government has taken up the matter at the international level to elicit cooperation from multilateral bodies involved in the security of ships; and

(f) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI G.K. VASAN) 

(a): Yes, Madam.

(b): The figures are given below:-

Sl.No.	Year	No. of ships hijacked	No. of Indian	with Indian seafarers	seafarers
1.	2007	1	14
2.	2008	3	50
3.	2009	5	52	(till date)

(c): No, Madam.

(d): Does not arise.

(e) & (f): In addition to patrolling of one Indian Navy ship in the Gulf of Aden since October,
2008 for providing protection to Indian ships, Indian seafarers working on foreign ships and
others who seek help, India has also raised the issue of hijacking in various international
fora including International Maritime Organisation in order to invoke the intervention of
the world body to control and combat this menace.