Indian Navy Successfully Rescues 21 Crew Members from Hijacked Vessel off Somalia Coast
NEW DELHI: In a daring operation, the Indian Navy has successfully rescued all 21 crew members, including 15 Indian nationals, from the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off the Somalia coast. The dramatic rescue unfolded in the North Arabian Sea, where the Navy’s swift response thwarted the hijacking attempt.
The Indian Navy released a statement confirming the safe evacuation of the crew from the citadel of MV Lila Norfolk. “Indian Navy’s Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea. All 21 crew (incl 15 Indians) onboard safely evacuated from the citadel. Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers,” the statement read.
The pirates’ attempt to hijack the vessel was likely abandoned due to the forceful warning issued by the Indian Navy and the interception by the Indian Naval warship, INS Chennai. The warship is now providing support to restore power generation and propulsion to enable MV Lila Norfolk to continue its voyage to the next port of call.
Indian Navy’s elite Marine Commandos (MARCOS) are currently conducting sanitization operations on various parts of the vessel. Despite initial reports of pirates firing at the ship during the hijack attempt, the MARCOS team did not find any pirates on board.
INS Chennai, diverted from its Anti-Piracy patrol, intercepted MV Lila Norfolk at 3:15 pm on Friday, following continuous surveillance using Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Predator MQ9B, and integral helicopters. The Indian Navy Marine Commandos boarded the vessel and commenced sanitization operations.
Indian Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar has issued directives for Indian warships operating in the Arabian Sea to take the “strictest possible action” against pirates, emphasizing the commitment to maritime security.
The incident unfolded when the Merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked by pirates 300 nautical miles east of Somalia while en route from Port Du Aco in Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain. The Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed Platforms responded swiftly after receiving a distress message on the UKMTO portal, indicating boarding by unknown armed personnel.
In response, the Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and redirected INS Chennai, leading to the successful rescue of the hijacked vessel’s crew in a remarkable display of maritime security operations.
