The Indian Navy’s marine commandos (MARCOS) foiled a hijacking attempt in the north Arabian Sea on Friday by boarding a ship flying the flag of Liberia and rescuing its crew of 21, who included 15 Indians, using “sanitization” procedures.
The bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk was intercepted by the Navy’s warship INS Chennai, a Kolkata Class stealth guided-missile destroyer, around 3:15 p.m. on Friday when it was conducting an anti-piracy mission.
The merchant ship reported that five-six unidentified armed individuals had boarded it on Thursday night via a message posted on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal.
The Navy added, “Sanitization by MARCOS has confirmed the absence of the hijackers,” and that the pirates’ attempt to abort the hijacking was likely prompted by its “forceful warning.”
The crew men who were imprisoned within the ship’s citadel were rescued without incident. A citadel is a special location on a ship where the crew can go for safety in the case of a hijacking.
Before MARCOS staff aboard the battleship boarded the commercial vessel and started sanitization operations, the Navy claims that the merchant vessel was continuously monitored by P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Predator MQ9B unmanned aerial vehicles, and integral helos (helicopters on a ship).
According to the Navy, the aircraft spotted the MV Lila Norfolk early on Friday morning, made contact, and verified the crew’s safety. It stated that INS Chennai was diverted to help the vessel while on anti-piracy patrol.
The Navy claimed that they were actively monitoring the situation overall and working with other agencies in the region.
“The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries,” the Navy said in its statement.
This incident in the Arabian Sea is the most recent in a string of recent marine mishaps. In the Arabian Sea, some 700 nautical miles off the coast of India, the MV Ruen, flying the flag of Malta, received assistance from the Indian Navy in December in response to a pirate incident.
While travelling to New Mangalore on December 23, the MV Chem Pluto, a merchant vessel flying the flag of Liberia and carrying a crew of 22, of which 21 were Indians, was targeted by a drone strike approximately 220 nautical miles southwest of Porbandar.
According to the Navy, the attacks showed a change in maritime occurrences that were occurring closer to the Indian exclusive economic zone.
The MV Sai Baba, a commercial oil tanker flying the flag of Gabon and carrying 25 Indian crew members, was targeted by a drone attack in the southern Red Sea on the same day as the MV Chem Pluto incident. Another ship using the flag of Norway was also targeted.
Following these occurrences, the Navy deployed frontline destroyers, frigates, and long-range maritime patrol aircraft to bolster maritime security and surveillance in the central and north Arabian Sea.
Five warships have been stationed in the Arabian Sea off the Gulf of Aden: INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Kolkata, INS Chennai, and a Talwar Class frigate.
Improved observation of the area has been conducted by the battleships, MQ-9B Predator drones, Dornier planes, and P8I maritime patrol aircraft.
As part of its surveillance efforts, the Navy is involved in active investigation of vessels in the Arabian Sea, including boarding of dhows.
