Cargo ship with 15 Indians onboard hijacked off Somalia, Navy deploys warship
A Liberian-flagged ship was hijacked near the coast of Somalia, with 15 Indian crew members on board.
The Indian Navy has sprung into action, deploying the warship INS Chennai to monitor the situation and ensure the safety of the crew. The Indian Navy is closely monitoring the hijacked ship ‘MV LILA NORFOLK’, about which information was received around last evening.
Indian Navy aircraft have been keeping a watch on plane and communication has been established with the crew who were in a safe house on board the ship, said military officials.
The Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed platforms responded swiftly to a maritime incident in the Arabian Sea involving a hijacking attempt onboard a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier. The vessel had sent a message on UKMTO portal indicating boarding by approx five to six unknown armed personnel on Thursday evening.
Responding swiftly to the developing situation, the Indian Navy launched an MPA and has diverted INS Chennai deployed for Maritime Security Operations to assist the vessel.
The aircraft overflew the vessel on Friday morning and established contact with the vessel, ascertaining the safety of the crew. Naval aircraft are continuously monitoring movement and INS Chennai is closing the vessel to render assistance.
The overall situation is being closely monitored, in coordination with other agencies/MNF in the area.