Indian Navy rescues hijacked cargo ship in Arabian Sea

An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Lila Norfolk less than a day after receiving reports that it had been hijacked about 460 nautical miles off Somalia.

Indian warship INS Chennai. Photo: AFP

According to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), about five to six armed men boarded the ship on Thursday.

However, the Indian Navy said it found no pirates on board the ship, adding that all 21 crew members on board, including 15 Indians, had been evacuated.

The ship, chartered by Anglo-American Mining, left the port of Acu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on December 6 carrying iron ore. “The entire crew is safe and the ship is en route to its destination, scheduled to arrive on January 12,” the company said in a statement.

The Arabian Sea connects the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, both of which lie on the trade route from Asia to Europe via the Suez Canal. Photo: GI

The ship was bound for Khalifa bin Salman in Bahrain, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey. “The attempted piracy was likely aborted with a strong warning from the Indian Navy,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.

Cargo hijackings in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea resumed in December after a multi-year lull. Experts believe the piracy has been fueled by fighting in Gaza and continued attacks on ships in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels.

The Indian Navy has recently stepped up its surveillance of the Arabian Sea. Data from the Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region shows at least three piracy incidents took place in December. The previous similar incident was reported only in 2017.

Hoang Anh (according to Reuters, AFP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hai-quan-an-do-giai-cuu-tau-hang-bi-cuop-tren-bien-a-rap-post279910.html