Mayday Alert: This is how the Indian Navy responded to a hijacking attempt in the Arabian Sea
The Indian Navy on Saturday said its warship and maritime patrol aircraft responded to a hijacking incident in the Arabian Sea.
New Delhi: The Indian Navy on Saturday said its warship and aircraft responded quickly to a hijacking incident in the Arabian Sea involving the Maltese-flagged commercial ship named MV Ruen. After receiving a Mayday alert on Friday evening, the Indian Navy immediately deployed its warship on the anti-piracy patrol to assist the ship. “The vessel, with 18 crew on board, had sent a Mayday message on the UKMTO portal on PM 14 and 23 December, indicating that approximately six unknown personnel had boarded. “The Indian Navy has responded quickly to the developing situation and diverted its Naval Maritime Patrol aircraft to conduct surveillance in the area and its warship on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden to locate and assist MV Ruen,” the Indian Navy said. Navy in a statement.
The Indian Navy warship and maritime patrol aircraft responded quickly to a hijacking incident in the Arabian Sea involving the Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen
Responding quickly to the evolving situation, the Indian Navy has diverted its Naval Maritime Patrol aircraft… pic.twitter.com/JECS4Swhr4
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2023
The Navy also diverted its maritime patrol aircraft for surveillance in the Gulf of Aden to locate and assist MV Ruen. The aircraft flew over the ship and continuously monitored the ship’s movement. MV Ruen is currently en route to the coast of Somalia.
How did the hijacking incident happen?
MV Reun was en route to Somalia when it was attacked on Thursday. The United Kingdom’s Marine Trade Operations stated that the crew had lost control of the ship. Notably, the hijacking of the commercial vessel appears to be the first major attack by Somali pirates since 2019, following several anti-piracy efforts by countries to put an end to such seizures in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
However, the British Navy has ordered ships and commercial vessels to exercise vigilance during their voyages in the Arabian Sea near Somalia. It is worth mentioning that a piracy action group is active in the Arabian Sea near Somalia.