ID :
29732
Wed, 11/12/2008 - 15:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/29732
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Pirates attack Indian ship, Navy intervenes
New Delhi, Nov 11 (PTI) In the first-ever action after
being deployed in the Gulf of Aden, Navy Tuesday thwarted an
attempt by pirates to capture an Indian merchant vessel in the
region.
The ship, M.V. Jag Arnav, has recently crossed the Suez
Canal and was eastward bound when it was surrounded by
pirates, who tried to board and hijack the ship, Navy sources
here said.
When the 38,265-tonne bulk carrier, owned by Mumbai-based
Great Eastern Shipping Company, raised an alarm, it caught the
attention of the Indian Naval warship, I.N.S. Tabar, which was
patrolling in the Gulf of Aden waters.
The Navy warship rushed its commandos on an armed
helicopter to intervene and they successfully repulsed the
pirates attacking the commercial carrier, sources added.
"An armed helicopter with marine commandos was launched
from the naval warship to intervene and prevent the pirates
from boarding and hijacking the merchant vessel. This timely
and successful intervention led to the pirates aborting their
attempt," sources said.
The attack took place around 10.30 hours about 60
nautical miles of Aden, when the pirates came on speed boats
armed with automatic weapons, they said.
Later, I.N.S. Tabar, which was about 25 nautical miles
away from the place of pirate attack, closed in on the
merchant vessel and escorted it to safety.
In the wake of several incidents of merchant vessels
coming under attack from pirates, India has on October 23
decided to deploy her warship in the Gulf of Aden on patrol
duties with a mandate to intervene if any Indian vessel was in
distress.
The decision came after pirates hijacked a Japanese
vessel, M.V. Stolt Valor, in the same area and took the ship
with 18 Indian sailors on board to a Somalian port on
September 15 this year.
For the last two months, the Indian sailors from Stolt
Valor have been held hostage by the Somalian pirates, who have
been demanding a ransom.
The Japanese shipping company has been holding
negotiations with the pirates to secure the sailors' release,
even as there were demands from their family members that
Indian government should intervene and get them to safety.
In fact, India has identified that a large number of sea
pirates were operating from the seaports of Eyl and Hobyo in
Somalia and is closely monitoring movements of pirates in the
area, Navy sources said.
A sizable portion of India's trade flows through the Gulf
of Aden and there has been a quantum increase in the number of
piracy attacks in the region over the last few months.
Navy sources said these patrols by a warship are being
carried out in coordination with the Shipping Ministry and are
intended to protect Indian merchant vessels from being
attacked by pirates and to instill confidence in the large
sea-faring community from India. PTI N.C.B.
RKM
being deployed in the Gulf of Aden, Navy Tuesday thwarted an
attempt by pirates to capture an Indian merchant vessel in the
region.
The ship, M.V. Jag Arnav, has recently crossed the Suez
Canal and was eastward bound when it was surrounded by
pirates, who tried to board and hijack the ship, Navy sources
here said.
When the 38,265-tonne bulk carrier, owned by Mumbai-based
Great Eastern Shipping Company, raised an alarm, it caught the
attention of the Indian Naval warship, I.N.S. Tabar, which was
patrolling in the Gulf of Aden waters.
The Navy warship rushed its commandos on an armed
helicopter to intervene and they successfully repulsed the
pirates attacking the commercial carrier, sources added.
"An armed helicopter with marine commandos was launched
from the naval warship to intervene and prevent the pirates
from boarding and hijacking the merchant vessel. This timely
and successful intervention led to the pirates aborting their
attempt," sources said.
The attack took place around 10.30 hours about 60
nautical miles of Aden, when the pirates came on speed boats
armed with automatic weapons, they said.
Later, I.N.S. Tabar, which was about 25 nautical miles
away from the place of pirate attack, closed in on the
merchant vessel and escorted it to safety.
In the wake of several incidents of merchant vessels
coming under attack from pirates, India has on October 23
decided to deploy her warship in the Gulf of Aden on patrol
duties with a mandate to intervene if any Indian vessel was in
distress.
The decision came after pirates hijacked a Japanese
vessel, M.V. Stolt Valor, in the same area and took the ship
with 18 Indian sailors on board to a Somalian port on
September 15 this year.
For the last two months, the Indian sailors from Stolt
Valor have been held hostage by the Somalian pirates, who have
been demanding a ransom.
The Japanese shipping company has been holding
negotiations with the pirates to secure the sailors' release,
even as there were demands from their family members that
Indian government should intervene and get them to safety.
In fact, India has identified that a large number of sea
pirates were operating from the seaports of Eyl and Hobyo in
Somalia and is closely monitoring movements of pirates in the
area, Navy sources said.
A sizable portion of India's trade flows through the Gulf
of Aden and there has been a quantum increase in the number of
piracy attacks in the region over the last few months.
Navy sources said these patrols by a warship are being
carried out in coordination with the Shipping Ministry and are
intended to protect Indian merchant vessels from being
attacked by pirates and to instill confidence in the large
sea-faring community from India. PTI N.C.B.
RKM
