In a prompt and effective response, the Indian Navy successfully rescued all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, who were aboard the distressed cargo vessel off the coast of Somalia on Friday. The Navy swiftly mobilized its warship INS Chennai and initiated maritime operations following a distress signal indicating a hijacking incident on Thursday.
The elite Marine Commandos, commonly known as Marcos, carried out sanitization operations on the vessel and confirmed the absence of hijackers, as stated by the Navy. The cargo ship in question, the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk, was en route from Port Du Aco (Brazil) to Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain. The distress message was conveyed through the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, reporting the presence of five to six unknown armed individuals who had boarded the vessel on the evening of January 4.
To address the situation, the Indian Navy deployed INS Chennai, a maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, and a long-range Predator MQ9B drone. INS Chennai, redirected from its anti-piracy patrol, intercepted the vessel at 3:15 pm in the North Arabian Sea.
On Friday morning, the Navy aircraft conducted a flyover of the vessel and established communication. Subsequently, the elite Marcos team boarded the cargo vessel to execute sanitization operations and successfully rescued all crew members.
The Indian Navy's Maritime Patrol Aircraft played a crucial role in issuing a forceful warning, possibly prompting the pirates to abandon their hijacking attempt. INS Chennai remained close to MV Lila Norfolk, providing support to restore power generation and propulsion, facilitating the resumption of its voyage to the next port of call.
This successful rescue operation comes after a recent incident involving the Liberian-flagged MV Chem Pluto, which faced a drone attack off India's west coast on December 23, 2023. The Indian Navy continues to vigilantly monitor the maritime security situation in the North and Central Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, ensuring the safety and security of maritime activities in the region.
