Shillong, March 17: The INS Kolkata was deployed in the Arabian Sea and successfully intercepted the pirate ship MV Ruen on Saturday, thwarting Somali pirates’ attempt to hijack ships in the region. The merchant vessel, hijacked in December 2023, was under the control of the pirates until the interception.
As part of Maritime Security Operations, the Indian Navy conducts extensive surveillance in the region, monitoring traffic in Areas of Interest. Based on surveillance information analysis, INS Kolkata tracked the movement of the Pirate Ship Ruen and intercepted it approximately 260 Nm East of Somalia on March 15.
INS Kolkata confirmed the presence of armed pirates through a ship-launched drone, which was shot down by the pirates. In response, Kolkata disabled the ship’s steering system, forcing it to stop. Kolkata engaged in forceful negotiations, resulting in the surrender of all 35 Somali pirates and the release of MV Ruen and its original crew.
INS Subhadra and Marine Commandos (PRAHARS) supported the operation, along with surveillance aircraft. All 17 original crew members were safely evacuated without injury, and the vessel was sanitized for illegal items.
MV Ruen, carrying approximately 37800 T of cargo valued at around one million dollars, will be safely brought to India. This successful anti-piracy operation highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to peace and stability in the region and its role as the ‘First Responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
