Marathon operation by Navy, IAF led to pirates’ surrender
17 crew members were saved from the hijacked MV Ruen; the Air Force’s C17 aircraft airdropped Marine Commandos during the operation while INS Kolkata disabled the vessel’s steering system
The Indian Navy said on Sunday that a drone it had used to intercept a merchant vessel hijacked by pirates on March 15, was shot down by the armed men.
The Navy said this while sharing details on the over 40hour operation resulting in the surrender of 35 pirates and freeing of 17 crew members of the hijacked vessel.
An Indian Air Force (IAF) C17 transport aircraft executed a precision airborne drop of two Combat Rubberised Raiding Craft (CRRC) boats flying 10 hours to an area 2,600 km away from the Indian coast.
“In a reckless hostile act, the pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian Naval warship. In a calibrated response in accordance with international laws, INS Kolkata disabled the ship’s steering system and navigational aids, forcing the pirate ship to stop,” the Navy spokesperson said. Videos of the operation released by the
Somali pirates with arms inside Maltese-flagged vessel Ruen. The vessel was rescued by Navy and Indian Air Force.
Navy show the pirates putting forward the crew members as human shields as warning shots were fired from the warship.
INS Kolkata undertook “precisely measured actions” while maintaining her position close to the pirate ship and also engaged in forceful negotiations, which resulted in the “pirates surrendering and releasing the pirate ship MV Ruen and its original crew present onboard,” the spokesperson stated.
Hijacked in December
The Maltaflagged merchant vessel Ruen was hijacked in December 2023
and had been under the control of Somalian pirates. The seaworthiness of MV Ruen will be assessed on Sunday and the vessel, which is carrying approximately 37,800 tonnes of cargo worth over $1 million, will be brought safely to India, the Navy said.
The Indian Navy as part of the maritime security operations has been carrying out extensive surveillance in the region, including monitoring of traffic in areas of interest. “Based on the analysis of the surveillance information, the Indian Navy was able to track the movement of the pirate ship Ruen and directed INS
Kolkata to intercept the ship approximately 260 nm east of Somalia.”
The antipiracy operation 1,400 nm (2,600 km) from mainland India was augmented by the deployment of INS Subhadra on Saturday morning, and also by airdropping of the Marine Commandos (MARCOS) by C17 aircraft in the afternoon, the Navy said. Additionally, the pirate vessel was kept under surveillance by MQ9A highaltitude long endurance remotely piloted aircraft and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Commenting on its role, the IAF said on X, “In a remarkable display of jointness and integration, an IAF C17 aircraft executed a precision airborne drop of two CRRC boats, along with Indian Navy MARCOS in Arabian Sea in support of ongoing antipiracy Op Sankalp flying for almost 10 hrs to an area 2600 kms off the Indian Coast...”
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “The Navy continues to ensure safety and security of the mariners in the Indian Ocean region.”