Indian Navy makes 35 Somali pirates on board MV Ruen surrender, rescues crew

In a bold display of its maritime security capabilities, the Indian Navy has completed the rescue operation ofthe hijacked vessel MV Ruen, which was under the control of Somali pirates.

INS Kolkata, in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender and ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members in the evening on Saturday (Mar 16)from the pirate vessel without any injury.

INS Kolkata had carried out the interception of the Pirate Ship Ruen almost 1400 nm (2600km) from the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by INS Subhadra, HALE RPA, P8I maritime patrol aircraft & MARCOS - PRAHARs air-dropped by C-17 aircraft.

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The vessel has also been sanitised for presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband.

On March 15, an Indian Navy warship successfully intercepted the MV Ruen, marking a significant step in combating piracy on the high seas. However, the operation was met with resistance as the pirates onboard the vessel opened fire on the warship.

In adherence to international law, the Indian Navy had responded with measured force aimed at neutralising the pirates' threat while minimising collateral damage. The primary objective remains the safe release of the vessel and any civilians who may be held against their will by the pirates. The MV Ruen had been hijacked by Somali pirates on December 14, setting sail as a pirate ship, posing a grave threat to shipping lanes.

The Indian Navy in a statement said it is "committed to maritime security and safety of seafarers in the region"

The operation also involved Indian Navy's Marine Commandos (MARCOS), who were swiftly deployed into action to secure the vessel and counter the piracy threat. With their specialised training and expertise, MARCOS are instrumental in conducting complex maritime operations, ensuring the safety and security of India's maritime interests.

The Navy has also successfully established communication with the crew aboard the MVRuenvessel, which was seized by Somali pirates. Among the crew of 15-16 members are individuals hailing from Angola, Bulgaria, and Myanmar.

The Indian Navy's proactive stance in responding to such threats is seen as key to protecting vital sea lanes and uphold global maritime security norms. The situation in western Indian Ocean remains unstable with Houthi attacks, piracy incident.