Indian Navy responds swiftly to hijacking attempt in Arabian Sea

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has taken decisive action following a hijacking attempt on a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, the MV Lila Norfolk, in the Arabian Sea.

Reports suggest that approximately five to six armed individuals boarded the vessel on Thursday evening, which had a crew comprising about a dozen Indian members.

In response to the situation, the Indian Navy mobilised its mission-deployed assets, including the maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) P8I and INS Chennai, to address the developing crisis.

Confirming their actions, the Navy stated, "Responding swiftly to the developing situation, the Indian Navy launched an MPA and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel."

The aircraft made contact with the vessel early Friday, ensuring the safety of the crew. Concurrently, INS Chennai has been redirected to provide necessary assistance to the hijacked vessel.

While the Navy continues to monitor the vessel's movements closely, it assures that the overall situation is under vigilant observation in collaboration with various agencies in the area. Emphasising its commitment to safeguarding merchant shipping in the region, the Navy works alongside international partners and friendly foreign nations.

This incident is part of a series of maritime events in the region over recent weeks. In December, the Navy intervened to aid a Malta-flagged vessel, MV Ruen, in a piracy incident in the Arabian Sea, nearly 700 nautical miles from the Indian coast.

Subsequently, on December 23, the MV Chem Pluto, a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel carrying 22 crew members, including 21 Indians, encountered a drone attack approximately 220 nautical miles southwest of Porbandar while en route to New Mangalore.

Highlighting a concerning trend, these incidents signal a shift in maritime threats closer to the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). A day following the MV Chem Pluto episode, a Gabon-flagged oil tanker, MV Sai Baba, bound for India with 25 Indian crew members, faced a drone attack in the southern Red Sea, along with another Norwegian-flagged ship.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported in these incidents, underscoring the Navy's proactive approach to ensuring maritime safety amidst evolving threats in the region.