Indian Navy Saves Hijacked Bulk Carrier & its Crew from Somali Pirates
An Indian Navy warship and its Maritime Patrol Aircraft saved a Bangladeshi Bulk Carrier and its crew after it was hijacked by Somali Pirates in the Indian Ocean.
The incident occurred 600 nautical miles east of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu.
The pirates also took 23 crew members of the Bulk Carrier MV Abdullah hostage, the navy mentioned in a statement.
Bulk Carrier MV Abdullah was headed to UAE from Mozambique with 55,000 tonnes of coal when a group of 15-20 Somalian pirates attacked it on the evening of March 12, 2024.
The Indian Navy sent its aircraft, the LRMP P-81, to locate the ship, survey the region and contact the crew, but they could not get a response from the vessel.
Then, the Indian Navy deployed a warship which intercepted the hijacked vessel on the morning of March 14, 2024.
The Indian Navy stated that the Bulk Carrier’s crew members were safe.
Indian Navy warship remained close to the vessel until it reached Somalia’s territorial waters.
The incidences of ship hijackings off the coast of Somalia have been on the rise since December.
This has sparked concerns about the resurgence of piracy in the Indian Ocean.
This coincides with an increase in attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthis, who claim to stand in solidarity with Gaza.