NEW DELHI: Navy marine commandos have launched a major operation to rescue the crew of merchant vessel MV Ruen that has been hijacked by Somali pirates, Navy officials said on Saturday.
On Friday, the navy had intercepted the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen after it opened fire on an Indian warship in international waters.
“The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will,” the navy had said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.The vessel was boarded by pirates on December 14 and had 18 crew onboard when it was hijacked near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers off Somalia.
Activity from Somali pirates has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the political uncertainty and wider chaos in the region that has included attacks on global shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels.
India recently began to flex its its naval power in international waters, including anti-piracy patrols and a widely publicized deployment close to the Red Sea to help protect ships from attacks during Israel’s war with Hamas.
The navy has helped at least four merchant vessels that were attacked in high seas by Houthi rebels. Indian forces include three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance aircraft.
MV Ruen was run by a Bulgarian company called Navigation Maritime Bulgare. The hijacking was the first incident in the past five to six years, despite efforts from several international navies to stop piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
(With inputs from agencies)
On Friday, the navy had intercepted the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen after it opened fire on an Indian warship in international waters.
“The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will,” the navy had said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.The vessel was boarded by pirates on December 14 and had 18 crew onboard when it was hijacked near the Yemeni island of Socotra, around 240 kilometers off Somalia.
Activity from Somali pirates has dropped in recent years, but there has been growing concern it could resume amid the political uncertainty and wider chaos in the region that has included attacks on global shipping by Yemeni Houthi rebels.
India recently began to flex its its naval power in international waters, including anti-piracy patrols and a widely publicized deployment close to the Red Sea to help protect ships from attacks during Israel’s war with Hamas.
The navy has helped at least four merchant vessels that were attacked in high seas by Houthi rebels. Indian forces include three guided missile destroyers and reconnaissance aircraft.
MV Ruen was run by a Bulgarian company called Navigation Maritime Bulgare. The hijacking was the first incident in the past five to six years, despite efforts from several international navies to stop piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
(With inputs from agencies)