New Delhi: Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk, with about a dozen Indian crew on board, was hijacked by suspected pirates Thursday evening in the Arabian waters.
The Indian Navy has launched an operation to rescue the vessel.
“Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in the Arabian Sea involving a hijacking attempt onboard Liberia Flagged bulk carrier. The vessel had sent a message on UKMTO [United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations] portal indicating boarding by approx [approximately] five to six unknown armed personnel in the evening on 4 January,” said the Navy in a statement.
It said a maritime patrol aircraft was launched and the INS Chennai, deployed for Maritime Security Operations, has been diverted to assist the vessel.
“The aircraft overflew the vessel on the early morning of 5 January and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew. Naval aircraft continues to monitor movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance,” it said.
The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies and naval forces in the region, the Navy added.
Sources said there are about a dozen Indian crew on board. The safety compartment – where the crew is – has not yet been breached by the hijackers, they said.
As reported by ThePrint on 27 December, the Indian Navy, along with the Indian Coast Guard, have intensified operations in the Arabian Sea in the wake of a loitering munition attack on a merchant vessel earlier.
The Navy has deployed guided missile destroyers — INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, INS Kolkata, and INS Chennai — as a deterrent force and for keeping track of all suspected vessels in the region.
Sources said in the past one week, Indian Naval task groups deployed in the area have investigated a large number of fishing and boarded vessels of interest.
Indian Naval maritime patrol aircraft and drones have undertaken persistent surveillance over the area, they added.
According to sources, they were closely monitoring white shipping, especially the Indian-flagged merchant vessels in the area, and that the Indian Navy was also coordinating with the Coast Guard for maintaining enhanced surveillance within India’s exclusive economic zone.
Edited by Tikli Basu.