Indian Navy foils bid to hijack Bahrain-bound tanker

Indian Navy commandos yesterday (January 5) thwarted an attempt by armed individuals to hijack a Bahrain-bound Liberian tanker off Somalia’s coast in the North Arabian Sea, said media reports.

Marine commandos on board Indian Navy’s missile destroyer INS Chennai on Friday intercepted the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk — hijacked by Somalian pirates in the north Arabian Sea a day before — and rescued all the 21 crew members, including 15 Indians.

“The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy,” a navy spokesperson said.

The vessel was sailing from Port Du Aco in Brazil and was destined to reach Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain when it was hijacked 300 nautical miles east of Somalia.

“All the 21 crew, including 15 Indians, on board have been safely evacuated from the citadel. The sanitisation by Marcos has confirmed the absence of the hijackers personnel,” he added.

Since INS Chennai was in the vicinity, the warship was pressed into action. “INS Chennai, diverted from her anti-piracy patrol, intercepted the merchant vessel at 15.15 hours on Jan 5. The ship was kept under continuous surveillance using maritime patrol aircraft, Predator MQ9B (drones) and helicopters.

The Indian Navy marine commandos boarded the vessel and commenced sanitisation,” he said. Earlier in the day, an Indian aircraft flew over the vessel and established contact with the ship,

On Thursday evening, the UK Maritime Trade Organisation (UKMTO) informed New Delhi about the hijacking attempt after the vessel sent a message on its portal, indicating boarding by five to six unknown armed personnel on January 4 evening.

The Indian Navy, which had increased its surveillance of the Arabian Sea after recent attacks in the region, immediately sprung into action.

India has currently deployed four destroyers – INS Kochi, INS Kolkata, INS Mormugao and INS Chennai – and Talwar-class frigates and missile boats in the Arabian Sea to ensure maritime security, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

“The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region along with international partners and friendly foreign countries,” stated the report citing a statement by the Indian Defence Ministry.

World’s largest shipping firm Maersk suspended Red Sea traffic after Iranian-backed Houthi attacks last month following the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

A ballistic missile fired by Houthi rebels slammed into a cargo vessel in the Red Sea near the Bab El Mandeb Strait, following another attack hours earlier that struck a separate vessel.

The White House on Wednesday released a joint statement by 44 countries, including Bahrain, condemning Houthi attacks against commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea. There has been a significant escalation over the past week with Houthis targeting commercial vessels with missiles, small boats, and attempted hijackings.