Indian Navy rescues bulk carrier crew after Arabian Sea hijack attempt All 21 crew include 15Indians onboard safely evacuated

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Delhi: Indian Navy’s Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea. All 21 crew include 15Indians onboard safely evacuated from the citadel.

The Indian Navy on Friday rescued the crew of a merchant vessel after its attempted hijack in the Arabian Sea and said it had not found any pirates on board. An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier less than a day after it received a report that the vessel had been hijacked about 460 nautical miles off Somalia. About five to six armed people boarded the vessel on Thursday, according to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, which said the ship's crew had gathered in the ship's citadel.

Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers. The attempt of hijacking by the pirates was probably abandoned with the forceful warning by the Indian Navy MPA of interception by Indian Naval warship. INS Chennai is in the vicinity of MV and rendering support to restore the power generation & propulsion, and commence her voyage to next port of call.

#IndianNavy’s Swift Response to the Hijacking Attempt of MV Lila Norfolk in the North Arabian Sea.
All 21 crew (incl #15Indians) onboard safely evacuated from the citadel.

Sanitisation by MARCOs has confirmed absence of the hijackers.

The attempt of hijacking by the pirates… https://t.co/OvudB0A8VV pic.twitter.com/616q7avNjg
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) January 5, 2024

The Army had earlier said that the Indians on board the Ranchia ship were safe and the warship's crew was ready for any operation. The pirates hijacked the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk. It is reported that six armed robbers ransacked the ship on Thursday evening.

The cargo ship MV Lila Norfolk was hijacked by pirates 300 nautical miles east of Somalia while en route from Port du Aco, Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman, Bahrain. As soon as the Indian Navy received the message that the ship had reached Ranchi, the Indian Navy had started operations. INS Chennai was diverted and a maritime patrol aircraft was deployed for surveillance.