Indian Navy thwarts Somali pirates’ attempt to hijack cargo ship in Arabian Sea

• A Malta-flagged cargo ship named MV Ruen was hijacked by six unidentified people on 14 December 2023 in the Arabian Sea.
• The ship, which had 18 crew members on board, sent an emergency message on the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) portal, alerting the authorities about the situation.
• The Indian Navy, which has been deployed to prevent piracy in the region, responded swiftly to the incident and sent its Naval Maritime Patrol Aircraft (NMPC) and warship to monitor and assist the hijacked ship.
• The Navy’s warship blocked the path of MV Ruen early on 15 December 2023 and is keeping a close watch on the ship, which is heading towards the Somali coast.
• The Navy is coordinating with other agencies and multinational forces (MNF) in the area to ensure the safety and security of the ship and its crew.
• The hijackers are suspected to be pirates from Somalia, but no one has claimed responsibility for the hijack yet.

New Delhi: One of the Indian Navy ships deployed to prevent piracy in the Arabian Sea has responded swiftly to an incident involving the hijacking of the Malta-flagged ship MV Ruen in the Arabian Sea. The ship with 18 crew has been hijacked by 6 people.

Details at a glance

• MV Ruen is a cargo ship that was sailing in the Arabian Sea on 14 December 2023, when it was hijacked by six unidentified people, who boarded the ship from a skiff.
• The ship had 18 crew members on board, including 12 Indians, 4 Filipinos, and 2 Ukrainians, according to the ship’s owner, Ruen Shipping Ltd.
• The ship sent an emergency message on the UKMTO portal, which is a voluntary reporting scheme run by the UK Royal Navy, to provide information and advice to merchant vessels in the region.
• The message indicated that the ship was under attack by six unknown people, who had taken control of the ship and its communication systems.
• The Indian Navy, which has been deployed to prevent piracy in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, responded swiftly to the incident and launched its NMPC and warship to locate and assist MV Ruen.
• The NMPC flew over the hijacked ship on the morning of 15 December 2023 and confirmed the presence of the hijackers on board. The NMPC also reported that the ship was moving towards the Somali coast, where the pirates usually operate from.
• The Navy’s warship, which was on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden, intercepted MV Ruen and blocked its path, preventing it from reaching the Somali waters. The warship is keeping a close watch on the ship and is ready to take action if required.
• The Navy is also coordinating with other agencies and MNFs in the area, such as the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), to ensure the safety and security of the ship and its crew.
• The hijackers are suspected to be pirates from Somalia, who have been known to attack and ransom merchant vessels in the region. However, no one has claimed responsibility for the hijack yet, and the motive and identity of the hijackers remain unclear.
• The Indian Navy, along with its international partners and friendly countries, is committed to ensuring the security of merchant ships in the region and preventing maritime crimes in the area.