In response to a distress call from an Iranian-flagged fishing vessel overtaken by pirates off the East coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy swiftly intervened, rescuing 17 crew members. Dispatching the INS Sumitra, a warship dedicated to Anti-Piracy Operations in the region, the Navy successfully intercepted the hijacked vessel, named FV Iman. Employing established procedures, the INS Sumitra compelled the pirates to release the crew and the vessel, ensuring the safe liberation of all 17 crew members.
The Navy confirmed that the vessel underwent a thorough inspection and was cleared for continued transit.
In its statement, the Navy emphasized that the deployment of Indian Naval ships on anti-piracy and Maritime Security Operations in the Indian Ocean Region demonstrates the Indian Navy’s commitment to ensuring the safety of all vessels and seafarers at sea.
This incident marks the latest in a series of maritime events in the Arabian Sea since December of last year. Just last week, the Marlin Luanda, a tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was targeted in a missile attack.
Presently, approximately 10-12 warships are stationed in the Arabian Sea, among them INS Kochi, INS Mormugao, INS Kolkata, INS Chennai, and a Talwar Class frigate. Enhanced surveillance of the region is being conducted by the Navy’s P8I maritime patrol aircraft, MQ-9B Predator drones, and Dornier aircraft. The naval force is actively engaged in investigating vessels in the Arabian Sea, which includes boarding dhows as part of their operations.
