By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, February 3: Indian Navy, while on a surveillance mission, successfully located FV Omari, which had been taken over by the Somali pirates. INS Sharda, deployed for anti-piracy mission in the region, was diverted to intercept the boat which had come under the attack of the pirates.
The Indian Navy said in a statement that FV Omari, an Iranian Flagged Vessel, was boarded by seven pirates who had taken the crew as hostages. INS Sharda intercepted the vessel in early hours of Friday and used her integral helo and boats to coerce the pirates for safe release of crew along with the vessel.
The Indian Navy has said that the ship has ensured successful release of the crew which consisted of 11 Iranian and eight Pakistani nationals members along with the boat. The ship also undertook confirmatory boarding on FV Omari to sanitise and check on the well-being of the crew who had been held captive by the Somali pirates.
The Indian Navy said that relentless efforts by Indian Naval platforms, mission deployed for anti-piracy and maritime security operations, continue to save precious life at sea, symbolising Indian Navy’s resolve towards safety of all vessels and seafarers at sea.
Seven incidents of hijacking of vessels on high seas by pirates have been reported during the last three years. One hijacking incident involved Merchant Vessel Lila Norfolk which had 21 crew present including 15 Indian nationals onboard on January 4-5 this year. Further, two hijacking incidents occurred involving Fishing Vessel – IMAN (January 28, 2024) & Fishing Vessel – AI Naeemi (January 29, 2024) which did not have any Indian crew onboard.
The Ministry of Defence in a reply in parliament said that Indian Navy has been proactively engaging with the regional and extra-regional navies/ maritime forces, to promote maritime security. Since 2008, Indian Navy has deployed units in Gulf of Aden and East Coast of Africa towards antipiracy patrols. A total of 3,440 ships and over 25,000 seafarers have been safely escorted.
The Ministry of Defence said: “For restoring maritime security in the region, enhanced presence of ships, aerial surveillance by maritime patrol aircraft / remotely piloted aircraft in the Central Arabian Sea and Off East of Coast of Somalia is being undertaken by Indian Navy.”
It also stated that information is also exchanged with national and international maritime security agencies for early response in a coordinated manner, effective liaison & coordination with DG (Shipping) for inputs on Indian crew onboard Merchant vessels plying in Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden / adjoining region. In addition, interrogation of fishing vessels/ dhows operating in the region is also being undertaken by Indian Navy for maintaining maritime security in the region.
Indian Navy has enhanced presence of ships, aerial surveillance by maritime patrol aircraft/remotely piloted aircraft in the central Arabian Sea and Off East of Coast of Somalia towards restoring maritime security in the region. The government has said that no piracy incidents have been reported in Palk Strait.
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