Indian navy rescues Iranian vessel hijacked off Somalia coast

The Indian Navy on Monday said one of its warships INS Sumitra has foiled yet another hijacking attempt while freeing an Iranian fishing vessel and rescuing all the 17 crew along with the vessel from Somalian pirates.

“INS Sumitra, on anti-piracy operations along the east coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of Iman, an Iranian flagged fishing vessel. The fishing vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew was taken as hostages,” an Indian Navy spokesperson said here.

The Indian naval patrol vessel intercepted the vessel, acted in accordance with the established standard operating procedures to coerce the pirates for safe release of crew and the boat and ensured successful release of all 17 crew members along with the boat.

The fishing trawler was subsequently sanitised and released for onward transit, he said.

Multiple strikes by Somalian pirates in recent weeks have stoked the fear of resurgence of sea bandits in the Arabian Sea as a large part of global naval assets deployed in the Gulf of Aden has been shifted to the Red Sea following drone and rocket attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial cargo.

The menace of piracy that peaked more than a decade ago and almost disappeared since 2017 has resurfaced after internal naval forces moved to the Red Sea area following Houthi strikes as a reaction to Israel’s offensive on Gaza strip.

The Indian Navy has enhanced its presence in the western seaboard with more than ten warships patrolling the high-seas. A few other Asian navies also enhanced their presence.

Hours before the Indian Navy rescued the Iranian boat, Seychelles forces freed a Sri Lankan vessel "hijacked by armed Somali pirates", President Wavel Ramkalawan's office said.

The Indian Navy spokesperson said the mission deployed Indian naval ships on anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean Region symbolise Indian Navy’s resolve towards safety of all vessels and seafarers at sea.

Pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011 - with the gunmen launching attacks as far as 3,655 km from the Somali coast in the Indian Ocean -- before falling off sharply after international navies sent warships and commercial shipping deployed armed guards.

In December, Malta-flagged tanker MV Ruen, with 18 crew onboard, was hijacked by Somali pirates approximately 700 miles from the Indian coast and the vessel is currently off the Somali coast.

Earlier this month, marine commandos onboard Indian Navy’s missile destroyer INS Chennai intercepted a Liberia flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk, hijacked by Somalian pirates in the north Arabian Sea and rescued all the 21 crews including 15 Indians.