Navy Vigilance: Responding Swiftly To Hijacked Vessel In Arabian Sea

The Indian Navy said on Saturday that it is keeping a close eye on a hijacked ship with the flag of Malta in the Arabian Sea and has sent both an aircraft carrier and a warship to help.

The ship M.V. Ruen, which had 18 people on board, sent a distress signal on Thursday through the UKMTO portal, saying that six people had broken in and taken over the ship.

After getting the distress call, the Navy’s maritime patrol aircraft, which was keeping an eye on the area, was sent to find and help M.V. Ruen.

The Navy said in a statement that an airplane flew over the hijacked ship early Friday morning and has been keeping a close eye on its movements. The ship is now heading toward Somalia.

The Navy’s warship, which was patrolling the Gulf of Aden to look out for pirates, also caught the hijacked ship early Saturday morning.

The Navy said it is keeping a close eye on things along with other groups and the Multi-National Force (MNF) in the area.

The statement said, “The Indian Navy is still committed to being the first responder in the region and making sure the safety of merchant ships, working with international partners and friendly foreign countries.”

The event took place after the High-Risk Area (HRA) warning for the Indian Ocean was reportedly taken down on January 1. In 2010, when Somali piracy was at its worst, the HRA was set up in the Indian Ocean to protect maritime interests and safety.

India’s economic and security interests are tied to the Indian Ocean Region. The country has been helping to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Eastern Arabian Sea.

The Navy began anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden in October 2008 and has been there ever since, according to the Ministry of Defense.

Reports say that the Gulf of Aden route is important for about 13% of India’s trade, and every day, hundreds of foreign ships cross the Indian Ocean, employing thousands of Indian sailors.