Indian Navy Thwarts Hijacking Attempt, Monitors Ship Headed for Somalia
In a swift response to a distress call, the Indian Navy successfully intercepted a hijacked commercial vessel, MV Ruen, in the Arabian Sea. The ship, flagged in Malta and carrying 18 crew members, had issued a distress signal through the UKMTO portal, indicating an unauthorized boarding by approximately six unknown individuals on December 14, 2023. Reacting promptly, the Indian Navy redirected a Naval Maritime Patrol aircraft and an Anti-Piracy patrol warship deployed in the Gulf of Aden to assist MV Ruen.
The intercepted vessel, currently en route to the Somali coast, is under close surveillance by the Navy’s warship. A patrol aircraft conducted an overflight to assess the situation, while reports suggest that the crew onboard had lost control of the ship. This incident marks a significant piracy event, seemingly the first major attack by Somali pirates since 2019, despite concerted efforts by multiple nations to curb such occurrences in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The UK’s Marine Trade Operations has issued advisories for ships navigating the area, urging caution and prompt reporting of any suspicious activities amidst the active presence of a piracy action group in the region.
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