Indian Navy Collaborates with Sri Lanka And Seychelles to Rescue Hijacked Sri Lankan Fishing Vessel

Defense News ,India :- In a well-coordinated and strategic operation, the Indian Navy, in collaboration with naval forces from Sri Lanka and Seychelles, has successfully rescued a hijacked fishing vessel in the sea lanes east of Mogadishu. The Sri Lankan-flagged fishing trawler, Lorenzo Putha, fell prey to three pirates on January 27, triggering a prompt response from the Indian Navy.

Multilateral Collaboration and Efficient Coordination

The Indian Navy, deploying INS Sharada and utilizing Sea Guardian long-range drones, swiftly located the hijacked fishing vessel. Commander Vivek Madhwal, spokesperson for the Indian Navy, emphasized, "In a coordinated multilateral response to the hijacking of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, the Indian Navy, in collaboration with Seychelles defense forces and Sri Lankan Navy, successfully intercepted and rescued the hijacked vessel."

Effective operational coordination and information sharing through the Sri Lanka and Seychelles International Liaison Officers at IFC-IOR, New Delhi, played a pivotal role in the successful interception, Madhwal added.

Pirates Surrender and Safe Crew Rescue

The three pirates surrendered to the Seychelles Coast Guard, ensuring the safety of all six crew members. The hijacked vessel is currently under escort to Mahe in Seychelles. Madhwal highlighted the proactive measures taken by the Indian Navy, stating, "INS Sharada and Sea Guardian long-range drones were deployed to locate and intercept the hijacked fishing vessel."

Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR)

Established in 2018, the Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) serves as a collaborative framework with like-minded countries to monitor shipping traffic and critical developments in the region.

INS Sumitra's Remarkable Anti-Piracy Operations

In a noteworthy development, INS Sumitra, engaged in anti-piracy and maritime security operations in the east of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, successfully rescued two hijacked fishing vessels along with 36 crew members in the Southern Arabian Sea within 36 hours.

On Monday, INS Sumitra rescued 19 Pakistani nationals after thwarting a plot to steal the Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Al Naeemi off the East Coast of Somalia. The warship intercepted the distressed vessel and compelled the pirates to safely release the crew and the boat.

Swift and Relentless Efforts

"INS Sumitra, over the course of less than 36 hours, through swift, persistent, and relentless efforts has rescued two hijacked Fishing Vessels along with 36 Crew (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani) in Southern Arabian Sea approximately 850 nm West of Kochi," stated the Navy in an official statement.

Previous Successful Mission by INS Visakhapatnam

Before this, the Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, effectively responded to a distress call from the Marshall Island-flagged MV Genco Picardy on January 18. The vessel had faced a drone attack on the night of January 17, prompting INS Visakhapatnam, currently on an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden, to intercept and provide immediate assistance.