India's naval commandos successfully rescued all crew members aboard a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel, MV Lila Norfolk, following an attempted hijacking in the Arabian Sea. No pirates were found on board during the operation.
According to the Indian Navy, a total of 21 crew members, including 15 Indians, were safely rescued after intercepting the vessel. The rescue operation commenced after the navy received a distress call reporting a hijacking off the coast of Somalia in the North Arabian Sea.
The vessel had alerted authorities via the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations portal, stating that around five to six armed individuals had boarded the ship on Thursday evening, as per an Indian navy statement.
The ship's intended destination was Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain, as reported by British maritime security firm Ambrey. However, the vessel's cargo contents remain undisclosed at this time.
The Indian Navy thwarted the hijacking attempt, possibly prompting the pirates to abandon their plans, following forceful warnings from the Indian Naval warship and marine patrol aircraft.
The INS Chennai warship was redirected and deployed to aid the vessel, while a naval aircraft established contact with the hijacked vessel on Friday.
Reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding merchant shipping in the region, the Indian Navy stated its dedication to collaborating with international partners and friendly foreign nations to ensure maritime safety.
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Indian Navy's INS Chennai moving towards Hijacked Vessel 'MV LILA NORFOLK