In a swift response to a distress call, the Indian Navy deployed a warship to aid a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier that had been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The incident, which occurred earlier this week, involved the seizure of the MV Abdullah and the hostage-taking of its 23-member crew.
The MV Abdullah, en route from Maputo, Mozambique, to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of 55,000 tonnes of coal, fell prey to pirates on Tuesday, prompting an urgent SOS. Upon receiving the distress signal, the Indian Navy immediately mobilized a Long-Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) aircraft to locate the hijacked vessel.
“The Mission Deployed warship on Maritime Security Operations intercepted the hijacked MV on the morning of 14 March,” stated the Indian Navy in a statement. The safety of the crew, all Bangladeshi nationals, was ascertained, and the warship maintained close vigilance until the MV reached the territorial waters of Somalia.
This incident is part of a concerning trend of hijackings off the coast of Somalia, raising fears of a resurgence in piracy activities in the Indian Ocean. Additionally, the situation is compounded by a surge in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the region.
Meherul Karim, CEO of Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills, which owns the MV Abdullah, confirmed the hijacking by a group of 15-20 Somali pirates. Meanwhile, Houthi militias, controlling parts of Yemen, have been carrying out drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting vessels they perceive to be linked to Israel.
The redirection of international naval forces northward from the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea has created security vulnerabilities, potentially allowing pirates to exploit the situation. The successful response by the Indian Navy underscores the ongoing challenges and complexities in maritime security in the region.
Sources By Agencies
