New Delhi:

The Indian warship INS Kolkata successfully cornered and coerced all 35 pirates to surrender on Saturday, ensuring the safe evacuation of 17 crew members from the pirate vessel without any injury, the Indian Navy said in an official statement.

In the rescue operation, which lasted for the last 40 hours, INS Kolkata intercepted the under-attack pirate ship Ruen, sailing almost 2600 km from the shores of the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions.

In the action to safely rescue the crew members and take full control of the distressed vessel, the operation was supported by the Indian warship INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE RPA) drones, P8I maritime patrol aircraft, and MARCOS PRAHARs airdropped by C-17 aircraft.

Later, the vessel was also sanitized for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband.

Earlier, the Indian Navy shared about the ongoing rescue operation to evacuate crew members onboard a distressed vessel.

The ex-MV Ruen, which had been commandeered by Somali pirates on December 14, 2023, reappeared as a pirate vessel, threatening merchant shipping in the high seas. Responding swiftly to the threat, an Indian Navy warship engaged the pirate vessel on March 15, the Navy said in its statement.

The pirates aboard the vessel were called upon by the Indian Navy to surrender immediately and release any civilians they may be holding against their will, the Navy said.

The Indian Navy reiterated its unwavering commitment to maintaining maritime security and ensuring the safety of seafarers navigating through these perilous waters. This action by the Indian Navy serves as a testament to India’s resolve to combat piracy and uphold international maritime laws.

 

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New Delhi:

A video shared by the Indian Navy shows a Somali pirate firing at a Navy chopper as it approached a hijacked ship on Friday. The Malta-flagged bulk cargo vessel, ex-MV Ruen, was hijacked by pirates on December 14 and was used to conduct “acts of piracy”, the Navy said.

After an Indian Navy warship intercepted the hijacked vessel, the pirates opened fire. The eight-second clip shows a pirate walk onto the deck of the ship and aim his gun at the chopper hovering over the hijacked vessel and fire twice.

“#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen. The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high seas,” it said in a statement.

#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen.

The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high… pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024

The Navy said it is now acting in self-defence and has called on the pirates to surrender and release any hostages they may be holding.

“The vessel was intercepted by the #IndianNavy warship on #15Mar. The vessel opened fire on the warship, which is taking actions iaw international law, in self-defence & to counter piracy, with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates’ threat to shipping and seafarers. The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender & release the vessel & any civilians they may be holding against their will,” the statement added.

This comes a day after the Indian Navy responded to an SOS call by a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier that was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia. They pirates had taken the ship’s 23-member crew hostage earlier this week, the Navy said.