Indian Navy Rescue Operation
In a high-octane dramatic operation spanning 40 hours, the Indian Navy secured the surrender of 35 Somali pirates and freed 17 crew members. All these members were being held captive on a hijacked vessel, the Navy announced in a press release.
The rescued ship, carrying over 37,800 tons of cargo valued at over $1 million, is expected to arrive back in India on Sunday.
The high-risk rescue, action-thriller like mission involved a coordinated effort utilizing multiple naval vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), aircrafts, and elite marine commandos.
Navy Detects Hijacked Vessel, Initiates Pursuit
While conducting routine surveillance operations, the Indian Navy identified the hijacked bulk cargo ship, Ruen. The warship INS Kolkata was immediately dispatched to intercept the vessel. The warship covered over 2,600 kilometers in pursuit and successfully cornered the ship on Friday morning.
For three months, the pirates had been using the hijacked vessel after seizing control on December 14th.
Drones Confirm Pirate Presence, Prompt Disabling Actions
A drone launched from a naval ship approached the hijacked vessel and verified the presence of armed pirates on board. Upon spotting the drone, the pirates opened fire, shooting it down.
In a video released by the Navy, a pirate can be seen emerging onto the deck of the ship, aiming his weapon at the hovering aircraft before opening fire.
In response, INS Kolkata strategically disabled the ship’s steering system and navigation equipment, pressuring the pirates to surrender and release the hostages.
Successful Takeover and Safe Evacuation
On Saturday, with the support of patrol vessel INS Subhadra, High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) drones, and P8I maritime patrol aircraft, the Navy successfully seized control of the ship.
Eight highly trained marine commandos (MARCOS PRAHARs) were airdropped onto the vessel by a C-17 aircraft to apprehend the pirates and safely evacuate the crew. The Navy confirmed that the operation was conducted without any casualties and that the ship was thoroughly inspected for illegal weapons, ammunition, and contraband.
“Through persistent pressure and strategically planned actions over the past 40 hours, the Indian Navy secured the surrender of all 35 Somali pirates on March 16th at 4:00 PM. All 17 original crew members of the MV Ruen were also safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injuries. The seaworthiness of the MV Ruen will be assessed tomorrow morning on March 17th. The vessel, carrying approximately 37,800 tons of cargo valued at over one million dollars, will be brought safely back to India,” the Navy stated in a press release.
