Cargo ship with 15 Indians hijacked off Somalia coast
A cargo ship, MV LILA NORFOLK, with 15 Indian crew members on board, has been hijacked near Somalia's coast, ANI reported. The incident was first reported on Thursday by the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations, a military organization that tracks the movements of various vessels in strategic waterways. The Indian Navy has deployed the INS Chennai and a patrol aircraft to assist the carrier.
INS Chennai moving toward the Liberia-flagged vessel: Officials
Situation being monitored, in coordination with other agencies: Navy
The Indian Navy said in a statement, "The vessel had sent a message on the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal, indicating boarding by approximately five to six unknown armed personnel on the evening of January 4, 2024." It said the overall situation was being closely monitored in coordination with other agencies/MNF [multinational forces] in the area.
Hijacking of another merchant vessel in Arabian Sea
The latest hijacking comes days after unknown attackers boarded a Malta-flagged merchant vessel, MV RUEN, in the Arabian Sea on December 14. The Navy rescued one of the 18 crew members after he was injured by the pirates. In an official statement, the Defense Ministry said that the Indian Navy remains committed to being a first responder to ensure the safety of merchant shipping.
Second hijack by Somali pirates since 2017
The latest events have brought the issue of pirate attacks back into the forefront after a dip in 2013. If confirmed, the attack on MV LILA NORFOLK will mark the second successful hijacking since 2017 by Somali pirates after international navies cracked down on piracy in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. Notably, pirate attacks in the region peaked between 2008 and 2013.
