“INS Sumitra, on anti-piracy operations along the East Coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden, responded to a distress message regarding hijacking of an Iranian-flagged Fishing Vessel Iman. The vessel had been boarded by pirates and the crew was taken as hostages,” Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.

INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel and acted in accordance with the established SOPs to coerce the pirates for safe release of the crew along with the boat, he said. It ensured the successful release of all 17 crew members and the boat, the spokesperson said.

The vessel was subsequently sanitised and released for onward transit.

Mission deployed Indian Naval ships on anti-piracy and maritime security ops in the Indian Ocean Region symbolise Indian Navy’s resolve towards safety of all vessels and seafarers at sea, he added.

On January 5, Indian Navy had swiftly responded to the hijacking of a merchant vessel, Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen, about 460 nautical miles off Somalia, and evacuated all 21 crew on board, including 15 Indians, in the daring mission. About five to six armed people had boarded the vessel. A warship, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters, P-8I, and long-range aircraft, along with Predator MQ9B drones, were deployed in the operation.

On January 18, Indian Navy deployed the warship INS Visakhapatnam after receiving a distress call from a cargo vessel, which was under attack by drones in the Gulf Aden, and provided assistance.