New Delhi: Indian Naval Ship Sumitra, an indigenous Offshore Patrol Vessel, has demonstrated its prowess in anti-piracy operations off the East Coast of Somalia. After thwarting a piracy attempt on Fishing Vessel Iman, INS Sumitra carried out another successful operation rescuing Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi and its 19 Pakistani crew members from 11 Somali pirates.
The sequence of events unfolded when INS Sumitra responded to a distress message on January 28, 2024, regarding the hijacking of the Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel Iman. Pirates had boarded the vessel, taking the crew of 17 Iranian nationals hostage. Following standard operating procedures and displaying coercive posturing, INS Sumitra intercepted FV Iman, rescuing the crew in the early hours of January 29, 2024. The vessel was sanitized and allowed to continue its journey.
Subsequently, INS Sumitra swiftly located and intercepted another vessel, the Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel Al Naeemi, which had fallen prey to pirates, with its 19 Pakistani crew members held hostage. Responding to the evolving situation, Sumitra, through coercive posturing and the effective deployment of its integral helicopter and boats, compelled the safe release of the crew and the vessel on January 29, 2024. The ship conducted a confirmatory boarding to ensure the well-being of the crew held captive by Somali pirates.
In less than 36 hours, INS Sumitra, with its swift, persistent, and relentless efforts, rescued two hijacked fishing vessels and their 36 crew members (17 Iranian and 19 Pakistani). The operations took place in the Southern Arabian Sea, approximately 850 nautical miles west of Kochi, preventing the potential misuse of these fishing vessels as mother ships for further acts of piracy on merchant vessels.
The Indian Navy, through these successful anti-piracy operations, once again affirms its commitment to safeguarding maritime activities in the region, ensuring the safety of mariners and vessels at sea.
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