Indian Navy Responds to the Hijacked Vessel near Somalia
Posted by admin on 2024-01-08 | Last Updated by admin on 2024-11-22 14:09:43
At least 15 Indian crew members were
reported to be on board the Liberian-flagged ship MV Lila Norfolk, which fell
victim to a hijacking near Somalia's coast on January 4, 2024, as disclosed by
the Indian Navy in an official statement.
The ship conveyed a distress message
through the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, stating
that five to six unidentified armed individuals had boarded the vessel on the
evening of January 4, 2024.
According to the statement, successful
communication has been established with the hijacked ship, establishing a
crucial link to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of the crew on
board.
The vessel, en route from Port Du Aco
in Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain, was seized by pirates approximately
300 nautical miles east of Somalia.
In response to the incident, the Indian
Navy promptly deployed a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and diverted the
warship INS Chennai, engaged in maritime security operations, to provide
assistance to the beleaguered vessel.
"The aircraft overflew the vessel
in the early morning of January 5, establishing contact and confirming the
safety of the crew. The naval aircraft continues to monitor the vessel's
movement, and INS Chennai is approaching to render assistance," the
statement affirmed.
The Navy emphasized that the overall
situation is under close scrutiny, with coordination maintained with other
agencies and multi-national forces (MNF) in the region.
The hijacking attempt further compounds
concerns over a series of attacks on merchant ships navigating international
shipping routes in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Central/North Arabian
Sea in recent times.
These incidents have
heightened security concerns for India, especially as Houthi militants, supported
by Iran, continue to target commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
