[AFRICANEWS] Indian Navy commandos boarded a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier that had been the subject of an attempted hijacking in the Arabian Sea and began clearance operations, the navy said on Friday."It's a big ship. It will take time because the commando group has to check every compartment of the ship to clear it of any pirates and there may be a confrontation," said Commander Mehul Karnik, a front man for the Marine.
The UK 's maritime commercial operations monitor said on Friday that the search had been completed and no pirates had been found on board, but the Indian navy said it could not yet confirm this information.
The ship sent a message to the UKMTO portal saying it had been boarded by five or six unknown gunnies on Thursday evening, the navy said in a statement. The Navy diverted a vessel deployed for maritime security operations to assist the MV Lila Norfolk, the statement said.
Ambrey, a maritime intelligence company, said the bulk carrier began drifting 670 km east of Hafun, Somalia, adding that its crew included 15 Indian nationals.
The Navy said a patrol aircraft flew over the ship early Friday, established contact with the crew and ensured they were safe. The aircraft continues to monitor the aircraft carrier's movements.
According to Mr. Karnik, the crew members said they were in their vault and that is where they were operating the ship from.
The situation is being closely monitored in coordination with other agencies present in the area, the navy added.
No group immediately grabbed credit for the attack. Attacks by Yemen
...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of...
's Iran's Houthi sock puppets
...a Zaidi Shia insurgent group operating in Yemen. They have also been referred to as the Believing Youth. Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi is said to be the spiritual leader of the group and most of the military leaders are his relatives. The legitimate Yemeni government has accused the them of having ties to the Iranian government. Honest they did. The group has managed to gain control over all of Saada Governorate and parts of Amran, Al Jawf and Hajjah Governorates. Its slogan is
God is Great, Death to Americaâ„¢, Death to Israel, a curse on the JewsThey like shooting off... ummm... missiles that they would have us believe they make at home in their basements. On the plus side, they did murder Ali Abdullah Saleh, which was the only way the country was ever going to be rid of him...
rebels have sparked growing concerns about shipping in the region.
| One India’s triumphal report: |
Confirmation from the Navy declared the ship clear of hijackers after a thorough sanitization operation. This outcome was likely influenced by a warning issued by the Navy's maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), deterring the pirates' intentions to take over the vessel.
The Navy had cautioned the pirates, signaling that an interception by an Indian Naval warship was imminent.
Earlier reports revealed that the merchant vessel had communicated via the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, reporting an intrusion by five to six unidentified armed individuals on the evening of January 4.
Multiple resources were deployed by the Indian Navy, including the INS Chennai warship, maritime patrol aircraft P-8I, and the long-range Predator MQ9B drone, to assist the threatened vessel. Upon interception by INS Chennai at 3:15 pm in the North Arabian Sea, a thorough inspection confirmed the absence of any hijackers.
INS Chennai currently remains near the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk, offering comprehensive aid to restore the vessel's power generation and propulsion systems. The primary objective is to ensure the safe continuation of its voyage to the next port of call, reaffirming the Navy's commitment to maritime security and safety.
#IndianNavy’s Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea.
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 5, 2024
All 21 crew (incl #15Indians) onboard safely evacuated from the citadel.
Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers.
The attempt of hijacking by the pirates… https://t.co/OvudB0A8VV pic.twitter.com/616q7avNjg