INS Sumitra rescues 17 Iranian crew from pirates
Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra has successfully rescued an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel off the eastern coast of Somalia after it was hijacked by pirates.
New Delhi: Indian Navy warship INS Sumitra on Monday ensured the safe release of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel after it was hijacked by some pirates off the eastern coast of Somalia and 17 crew members were taken hostage. After receiving the distress call, the Indian Navy responded quickly and carried out a successful rescue mission, an official said.
Key details of the rescue mission
According to PTI reports, Indian Navy spokesperson Vivek Madhwal informed that “INS Sumitra, deployed in anti-piracy operations along the eastern coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress message regarding the hijacking of an Iranian-operated flag sailing ship. fishing vessel Iman.”
The fishing vessel was boarded by pirates and all crew members were taken hostage, he added.
“INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel, acted in accordance with established SOPs (standard operating procedures) to coerce the pirates for the safe release of the crew along with the boat and ensured the successful release of all 17 crew members along with the boat. ” Madhwal said.
The ship was then cleared and released for further transit. The mission deployed Indian Navy ships for anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean region symbolizes the Indian Navy's resolve towards the safety of all ships and seafarers at sea, Madhwal said.
Continued hijacking attempts by pirates on the trade route
This rescue incident by the Indian Navy took place two days earlier after one of its warships INS Visakhapatnam extinguished fire aboard a commercial oil tanker carrying 22 Indian crew members when the ship was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden.
As soon as the Indian Navy received information about the incident on Friday evening, it immediately deployed its missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam to assist the ship.
The Marshall Islands-flagged ship MV Marlin Luanda was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
The Indian Navy also suppressed an attempted hijacking of the Liberian-flagged ship MV Lila Northfolk in the North Arabian Sea and safely rescued all its crew. The Liberian-flagged ship MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off the west coast of India on December 23.
In addition to the MV Chem Pluto, another commercial oil tanker bound for India was targeted in what appeared to be a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea on the same day. The ship's crew consisted of 25 Indians. The maritime environment in vital sea lanes such as the North and Central Arabian Seas has prompted the Navy to enhance the deployment of its frontline ships and surveillance aircraft for maritime security operations.
(With input from agencies)