Indian Navy Aircraft & Warship Respond to Hijacked Maltese Ship Mayday Call in Arabian Sea

Defense News - The Indian Navy announced on Saturday that it is actively monitoring a hijacked Malta-flagged vessel in the Arabian Sea, promptly dispatching both aircraft and a warship to address the situation.

The vessel in question, M.V. Ruen, carrying 18 crew members, issued a distress signal via the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal on Thursday, reporting an intrusion by six individuals who had taken control of the ship.

Responding to the distress call, the Navy deployed its maritime patrol aircraft, already conducting surveillance in the vicinity, to locate and aid M.V. Ruen. The aircraft conducted an overflight of the hijacked ship on early Friday and has since been continuously monitoring its movement, which is presently directed towards Somalia, as per the Navy statement.

In a concurrent operation, the Navy warship, engaged in anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden, intercepted the hijacked vessel in the early hours of Saturday. The Navy emphasized its close vigilance over the situation, in collaboration with other agencies and the Multi-national Force (MNF) in the region.

Affirming their commitment to being the primary responders in the region, the Navy statement underlined their dedication to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in cooperation with international partners and friendly foreign countries.

The incident unfolded subsequent to the reported removal of the High-Risk Area (HRA) warning in the Indian Ocean on January 1. Initially established in 2010 during the peak of Somali piracy, the HRA was designed to safeguard maritime interests and security.

Given the significance of the Indian Ocean Region to India economic and security concerns, the country has actively participated in anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Eastern Arabian Sea. The Navy commenced anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden in October 2008 and has maintained a continuous presence since then, as outlined by the Ministry of Defence.

Reports indicate that approximately 13 percent of India trade relies on the Gulf of Aden route, and a substantial number of Indian seafarers are employed on the multitude of foreign ships navigating the Indian Ocean on a daily basis.