In a daring operation, Indian Navy's elite commandos, MARCOS, successfully rescued all 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, from the cargo ship 'MV Lila Norfolk' in the Arabian Sea. The vessel had been hijacked by unknown armed personnel near the coast of Somalia.
Responding swiftly to a distress call, the Navy deployed a comprehensive force, including a warship, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, P-8I and long-range aircraft, and Predator MQ9B drones. The hijackers had boarded the 84,000-tonne bulk carrier on Thursday evening.
The MARCOS commandos, known for their precision and expertise, conducted a thorough sanitization of the cargo ship's top deck. The rescue operation focused on the ship's citadel, a fortified section used as a refuge during pirate attacks. The Navy confirmed the absence of hijackers on the vessel.
Commander Vivek Madhwal, the Indian Navy's spokesperson, stated, "All 21 crew, including 15 Indians onboard the vessel, were safely evacuated from the citadel." He added that the attempt of hijacking was likely thwarted by the forceful warning issued by the Navy's maritime patrol aircraft.
The naval warship INS Chennai, initially on an anti-piracy patrol, was diverted to the scene. It launched a helicopter and warned the pirates to abandon the hijacked vessel. The warship is now working to restore power and propulsion to allow the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier to continue its journey to the next port of call.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) first reported the hijacking, with INS Chennai responding promptly to safeguard the crew and vessel. Steve Kunzer, CEO of the ship's owners, Lila Global, expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy and commended the professionalism of the crew in a statement.
This incident follows recent tensions in strategic waterways, prompting the Indian Navy to deploy additional warships to maintain a deterrent presence. The region has witnessed a series of shipping attacks, including a drone attack near India's coast attributed to Iran by the United States.
As vessels reroute from the Red Sea due to Houthi rebel activities, backed by Iran, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, the Indian Navy remains vigilant in ensuring maritime security.