35 pirates surrendered in 40-hour Navy operation

New Delhi: The Indian Navy forced 35 pirates to surrender and rescued 17 crew members of the former merchant ship Rouen in a nearly 40-hour long rescue operation in the Arabian Sea.

The Navy on Sunday said it had deployed INS Kolkata in the Arabian Sea to foil the plans of Somali pirates to hijack ships passing through the area.

The Navy said, “Former merchant ship Rouen was intercepted by INS Kolkata on 15 March. “Rouen was hijacked in December 2023 and was under the control of Somalian pirates.”

It said INS Kolkata detected the presence of armed pirates on MV Rouen through a ship-launched drone.

“In a reckless hostile action, the pirates shot down the drone and opened fire on the Indian Navy warship,” the Navy said. INS Kolkata disabled the ship’s steering system and navigational aids, forcing the pirates to stop the ship.

The Indian Navy’s efforts in the ongoing anti-piracy operation 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km) off the Indian mainland have been strengthened by the deployment of INS Subhadra to the area and the airlift of Marine Commandos (Prahar) by C-17 aircraft, a Navy official said. -Was increased by dropping.

“The pirate ship was kept under surveillance by Hale RPA and P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft,” he said. Due to sustained pressure and deliberate action by the Indian Navy for over 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered on 16 March, while all 17 original crew members of MV Rouen were rescued by the pirates without any injuries. Was safely taken out of the clutches of.”

He said the ship was searched for the possible presence of illegal weapons, ammunition and contraband.

The Navy also informed that the seaworthiness of the merchant ship Rouen will be assessed on March 17 and the ship carrying approximately 37,800 tonnes of cargo, worth approximately one million dollars, will be safely brought to India.