Indian warship ensures safe release of hijacked vessel and crew

Indian Navy`s INS Sumitra deployed on anti-privacy operations responded to the call. Pic X @Indian Navy

An Indian naval warship deployed along the east coast of Somalia responded to a distress call regarding hijacking of an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel after it was boarded by some pirates. It ensured the successful release of all 17 crew members and the boat. Indian Navy's INS Sumitra deployed on anti-privacy operations responded to the call.

"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 an Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel Iman. The vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew was taken as hostages," Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel and acted in accordance with the established SOPs to coerce the pirates for safe release of the crew along with the boat, he said. It ensured the successful release of all 17 crew members and the boat, the spokesperson said.

The vessel was subsequently sanitised and released for onward transit "Mission deployed Indian naval ships on anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean region symbolises the Indian Navy's resolve towards safety of all vessels and seafarers at sea," Madhwal said.

Meanwhile, Indian Navy updated that Fire onboard MV Marlin Luanda was brought under control too. Indian warship INS Visakhapatnam on Saturday extinguished a fire onboard a commercial oil tanker with 22 Indian crew after the vessel was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden -- a key shipping route that witnessed similar attacks in the last few weeks.

The Indian Navy deployed its missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam to assist the vessel after receiving a distress call from it on Friday night. Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said in New Delhi that after six hours of battling the fire along with the crew of MV Marlin Luanda, the Indian Naval fire fighting team has successfully brought the blaze under control.

(With PTI Inputs)