NEW DELHI: In a prompt response to a hijacking incident in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has deploy a warship and maritime patrol aircraft to address the situation involving the Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen on Saturday.
The Indian Navy, engaged in anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden, swiftly diverted its Naval Maritime Patrol aircraft to locate and assist the vessel. The aircraft flew over the hijacked vessel on the morning of Friday. With continuous monitoring, it was revealed that the vessel was now heading towards the coast of Somalia, according to a statement from the Indian Navy.
Simultaneously, the Navy’s warship, mission-deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations, intercepted the vessel in the early hours of Saturday.
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In response to the situation which occurred on Friday evening, six ‘pirates’ took control of the vessel, which had 18 crew members on board.
Presently, a Spanish navy ship has been dispatched towards the Malta-flagged commercial vessel, alongside the European Union’s Somali counter-piracy force. The EUNAVFOR had received an alert about the alleged hijacking of the vessel, located approximately 500 nautical miles east of Socotra Island, off Somalia.
While EUNAVFOR is coordinating with international naval forces, including the broader Combined Maritime Force, British maritime security company Ambrey believes that MV Ruen has indeed been hijacked by pirates.