Two commercial vessels carrying a total of 22 Indian nationals have been hijacked in separate incidents off Yemen and Somalia.

Axar.az informs, citing The New Indian Express, that according to officials and maritime security sources, the Seamull tanker, also known as SIBU 1, with 16 Indians among its 20-member crew issued a distress call as it was approached 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, according to shipping monitor Vanguard.

"The tanker has been boarded by six armed persons, who are now in control of the vessel and redirecting it towards Somalia," said the EU's Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO).

Repоrts said the crew was safe, although the vessel's movements were being monitored.