Indian Crew Held Hostage as Ship Gets Hijacked Near Somalia Coast

New Delhi. A ship near the coast of Somalia has been hijacked, with at least 15 Indians among its crew members. The vessel was sailing under the flag of Liberia. Responding to the severity of the situation, the Indian Navy's warship "INS Chennai" is advancing towards the hijacked ship.

Statement from the Indian Navy

In a statement, the Indian Navy revealed that its mission platforms swiftly responded to a maritime incident in the Arabian Sea, involving an attempted hijacking on a Liberian-flagged cargo ship. The ship had sent a message on the UKMTO portal on the evening of January 4, indicating the presence of five to six armed individuals on board.

Current Developments

- After receiving information, the Indian Navy launched an aerial reconnaissance and diverted INS Chennai for maritime security operations and assistance to the hijacked ship.

- Aircraft maintained vigilance over the ship, ensuring the safety of the crew, while INS Chennai is approaching to provide assistance.

- Other agencies in the region are closely monitoring the situation with coordination.

- This hijacking incident follows the seizure of a commercial ship with a Maltese flag by unknown assailants in the Arabian Sea a few days ago, reigniting concerns about maritime piracy. The ship signaled that six 'maritime bandits' had unlawfully boarded it.

- Attacks by maritime pirates in this region peaked between 2008 and 2013, but sustained efforts by the Indian Navy and multinational maritime forces led to a subsequent decline in such incidents.