Indian Navy successfully foiled hijack attempt on an Indian merchant ship by pirates early today Nov 11, when it was on the way to India crossing from the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast.
The incident took place at around 10:30 am Tuesday when pirates tried to board the Indian ship MV Jag Arnav. Anticipating a hijack attempt, the crewmembers raised an alarm, which was instantly monitored by the Indian Navy patrolling in the vicinity.
An armed helicopter with marine commandoes was launched from the naval ship to intervene and prevent the pirates from boarding and hijacking the merchant vessel.
The successful intervention on time forced the pirates to relinquish their attempt and after exchange of some fires they fled from the area. The Naval ship, which was deployed in the region in the wake of continuous hijack attempt on Indian ships and crew, then escorted the merchant ship to reach her safely in the Indian Territory.
In view of increasing piracy, the Indian Navy has been conducting anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since Oct 23, 08 as a sizeable portion of our country’s trade flows through the Gulf of Aden
Gulf of Aden
The Gulf of Aden located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, Arabian Peninsula and Somalia, Africa, constantly remains under the pirates’ attack, making its water unsafe for smooth movement of ships.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, over two-dozen actual and attempted attacks in 2007 in the Gulf off the coast of Somalia had taken place.
On April 4, 2008, pirates had seized a French luxury boat, yacht in the Gulf of Aden accompanied by 34 crewmembers.
On Sept 15, this year a Hong Kong chemical tanker was captured by pirates in the gulf. The most recent attempt of plundering of an arms ship was made on October 4, 2008.
|
|
Comments:
