New Delhi: In the projection of India’s rising maritime energy, the Indian Navy executed a dramatic mid-sea operation ending a three-month hijacking of a bulk service with deployment of its warship INS Kolkata, long-endurance Sea Guardian drones, P-8I surveillance plane and airdropping of elite MARCOS commandos from a C-17 airplane.
The Navy seized the previous Maltese-flagged vessel, rescued 17 hostages and captured 35 armed pirates within the almost 40-hour operation round 2,600 km from the Indian coast that specialists say was the primary such profitable takeover of a cargo ship from the Somali pirates within the final round seven years.
The Navy mentioned after it confirmed the presence of armed pirates onboard the vessel MV Ruen by a ship-launched drone, the drone was shot down by the pirates on March 15.
As the well-coordinated operation got here amid rising issues over security of vital sea lanes, the Navy on Sunday asserted that it’s resolved to “reinforce” peace and stability within the Indian Ocean and to thwart resurgence of piracy within the area.
It is learnt that Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar minutely monitored the operation.
“I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs, for their determined & decisive actions,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh mentioned on ‘X’.
The @indiannavy continues to make sure security and safety of the Mariners within the Indian Ocean Region.
I congratulate the Indian Navy and the courageous crew onboard the ships and plane, together with MARCOs, for his or her decided & decisive actions. https://t.co/gDBFzISZVu
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) March 17, 2024
Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy for the profitable operation to rescue the hijacked vessel and crew members, together with seven nationals of her nation.
Responding to Gabriel’s put up on ‘X’, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar mentioned, “That’s what friends are for.”
That’s what pals are for.@rajnathsingh @indiannavy https://t.co/WGlYVzQEZA
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (Modi Ka Parivar) (@DrSJaishankar) March 17, 2024
The service provider vessel Ruen was seized by the Somali pirates on December 14 off the coast of Somalia.
A quick video of the anti-piracy operation ‘Sankalp’ confirmed the pirates making an attempt to make use of the hostages as human shields.
In an announcement, the Navy mentioned the seaworthiness of MV Ruen is being assessed and the vessel carrying roughly 37,800 tonnes of cargo value round USD 1 million will likely be introduced safely to India.
“The culmination of the ongoing anti-piracy operation involving pirate ship Ruen in the Southern Indian Ocean Region highlights the commitment of the Indian Navy towards reinforcing peace and stability, and also to thwart the resurgence of piracy in the region,” it mentioned.
The Navy deployed over 10 warships to maintain a vigil over the strategic waterways following growing assaults on cargo vessels within the Red Sea by Iran-backed Houthi militants.
In the midst of rising international issues over the Houthi assaults, the Indian Ocean noticed rising incidents of piracy triggering issues in lots of international locations.
“INS Kolkata, mission-deployed in the Arabian Sea, through the sustained high tempo of operations lasting over 40 hours, has thwarted the designs of the Somali pirates to hijack ships transiting through the region by intercepting the pirate ship MV Ruen on March 16,” the Navy mentioned.
Sharing some features of the operation, the Navy mentioned its warship INS Kolkata intercepted Ruen on Wednesday morning and confirmed the presence of armed pirates by a ship-launched drone.
“In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian Naval warship,” it mentioned, including INS Kolkata disabled the vessel’s steering system and navigational aids, forcing it to cease crusing.
Following this, the MARCOS commandos seized the vessel, captured the pirates and rescued the crew members of Ruen.
“INS Kolkata undertook precisely measured actions while maintaining her position close to the pirate ship and also engaged in forceful negotiations, which resulted in the pirates surrendering and releasing the pirate ship MV Ruen and its original crew present onboard,” the Navy mentioned.
“The efforts of the Indian Navy in the ongoing anti-piracy operation 1400 nautical miles (2600 km) from mainland India were augmented by the deployment of INS Subhadra in the area (on Saturday), and also by air-dropping of the marine commandos by C-17 aircraft in the same afternoon,” it added.
It mentioned the pirate vessel was stored underneath surveillance by high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned plane and P8I maritime reconnaissance plane.
“Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over the last 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered,” it mentioned.
“All 17 original crew members of MV Ruen were also safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injury. The vessel has also been sanitised,” it mentioned.
Separately, the Indian Air Force described the airdropping of the Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats and the MARCOS commandos as a “remarkable display” of “jointness” between the 2 forces.
“In a remarkable display of #Jointness & #Integration, an IAF C-17 aircraft executed a precision Airborne Drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats, along with Indian Navy MARCOS in Arabian Sea in support of ongoing anti piracy Op Sankalp,” the IAF posted on ‘X’.
“Flying for almost 10 hrs to an area 2600 kms off the Indian Coast, the Op was carried out to rescue crew of bulk carrier vessel MV Ruen. The ship was hijacked by Somali pirates near Yemeni island of Socotra recently,” it mentioned.
The Navy mentioned it stays steadfast in performing its position because the ‘First Responder’ within the Indian Ocean Region.
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