The Indian Navy rescued 17 crew members of the hijacked Merchant Vessel (MV) Ruen and captured 35 pirates off the east coast of Somalia after a 40-hour operation on 16 March. The Malta-flagged vessel was hijacked last year on 14 December near the Yemeni island of Socotra.
40-Hour Operation
INS Kolkata conducted the anti-piracy operation around 2600 km from the Indian mainland as part of Operation Sankalp, an anti-piracy security effort by the Indian Navy. It stopped Somali pirates from hijacking ships in the region by intercepting the MV Ruen, converted into a pirate ship.
#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024
The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high… pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb
The navy monitored MV Ruen's route and directed INS Kolkata to intercept it approximately 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. INS Kolkata captured MV Ruen early on 15 March, and a drone launched from the former confirmed the presence of armed pirates. After shooting down the drone, the pirates fired at the Indian ships. The hijacked ship was forced to stop when INS Kolkata turned off the ship’s navigational instruments and steering system.
The Navy’s operations were aided by the deployment of INS Subhadra in the region and the airdrop of the Marine Commandos (PRAHARS) by the IAF’s C-17 transport aircraft. A precision airborne drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats was also undertaken.
The pirates later surrendered and released the crew after INS Kolkata engaged in intense discussions and made precisely calculated, measured moves while staying close to the pirate ship.
The ship has been sanitised to remove any potential unlawful weapons, ammunition, or contraband. It reportedly carries around 37,800 tonnes of cargo valued at a million dollars or more and has been brought to India.
India as First Responder
“The Indian Navy remains steadfast in performing its role as the ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),” the government statement said. Indian Defence Minister congratulated the Navy for its “determined and decisive actions” and lauded it for ensuring the safety and security of the mariners in the region.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mariya Gabriel expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy for successfully rescuing the crew, which included seven Bulgarian nationals.
The @indiannavy continues to ensure safety and security of the Mariners in the Indian Ocean Region.
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) March 17, 2024
I congratulate the Indian Navy and the brave crew onboard the ships and aircraft, including MARCOs, for their determined & decisive actions. https://t.co/gDBFzISZVu
India has noted at least 17 incidents of hijacking, attempted hijacking or suspicious approaches in the Red Sea since December. Increased attacks of commercial ships transiting the Red Sea by Houthi rebels from Yemen have destabilised the region and contributed to a resurgence in piracy near Somalia. To prevent this dangerous trend from escalating, India has deployed around a dozen warships around the region.
In the latest such incident, an Indian warship rescued a Bangladeshi-flagged cargo vessel, en route from Mozambique to the UAE, that was hijacked in the Indian Ocean.
Resurgence of Piracy in the Horn of Africa
Piracy in the Horn of Africa region, which was at its peak during the early 2010s, was significantly curbed following years of concerted international maritime security efforts. However, according to a recent report by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), there has been a global resurgence in piracy, including near the Somali coast.
IMB Director Michael Howlett told Statecraft that Somali pirates retain the capability to launch attacks on ships and urged the “continued presence” of international navies in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and off the East Coast of Somalia.
According to the IMB, there were 120 incidents of maritime piracy and armed robbery against ships in 2023, slightly higher than the 115 incidents recorded in 2022. Of the 120 incidents, 105 vessels were boarded, there were nine attempted attacks, four vessels were hijacked, and two were fired upon.
The IMB also urged caution over crew safety as 2023 saw a marked increase in threats to crew. Last year, 73 crew members were taken hostage, 14 kidnapped, 10 threatened, four injured, and one assaulted.
Piracy incidents in 2023 were recorded in East and South East Asia, South America, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.