Indian Navy warship en route to tackle hijacking of ship, with 15 Indian crew members, near Somalia coast
Representative image of Indian Navy deploying aircraft for rescue operation of capsized Chinese ship
An Indian Navy warship, INS Chennai, is en route to address a hijacking incident involving the vessel 'MV Lila Norfolk' with 15 Indian crew members in the Arabian Sea, media reports said on Friday (Jan 5) citing military officials.
ANI news agency reported that the Indian Navy received information about the hijacked Liberian-flagged ship near Somalia's coast on the evening hours of Thursday (Jan 4).The Indian Navy is actively monitoring the situation.
Reports said that a surveillance aircraft, also known as Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA), had also been deployed to observe the vessel. Communication has also been established with the crew.
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The ongoing situation is under close monitoring with coordination among various agencies and the multi-national force (MNF) in the region, media reports said citing the Indian Navy.
The MPA conducted an overflight of the vessel in the early morning of Friday, during which it established contact and ensured the safety of the crew, said news agency reports.
“The vessel had sent a message on the UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) portal, indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on the evening of January 4, 2024,” the Indian Navy reportedly said in a statement.
Presently, specific information regarding the hijacking as well as the identity of the perpetrators is not known.
Surveillance bolstered
The Indian Navy has bolstered its surveillance in response to a surge in security incidents reported on merchant vessels navigating international shipping lanes in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The Navy acted promptly in a recent hijacking crisis in the Arabian Sea on December 14, involving the Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen en route to Somalia.
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The incident unfolded rapidly, prompting the evacuation of a Bulgarian national, one of the 18 crew members aboard the hijacked cargo vessel, who sustained injuries during the pirate action.
The Indian Navy utilised the frontline ship INS Kochi to evacuate and provide medical care to the injured sailor.
(With inputs from agency)