The Indian Navy last week rescued a hijacked fishing vessel and its crew, after more than 12 hours of ‘intense coercive tactical measures’ as part of the anti-piracy operation.
All nine surrendered pirates are being brought to India for further legal action, the Indian Navy said a day after rescuing a hijacked fishing vessel and its 23-member Pakistani crew under an anti-piracy operation at sea.
The incident took place late evening on March 28 approximately 90 nautical miles southwest of Socotra.
Legal action will be taken against them under the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, of 2022, the navy said in a separate statement on Saturday.
According to a statement by the navy’s spokesman, Indian war ships INS Sumedha and INS Trishul intercepted during early hours of March 29 the fishing boat Al Kambar boarded by nine armed pirates.
After more than 12 hrs of intense coercive tactical measures, the pirates on board the hijacked fishing vessel were forced to surrender.
The Indian Navy’s specialist teams have completed sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of the fishing vessel Al-Kambar, according to a statement shared by the Navy’s spokesperson.
The crew comprising 23 Pakistani nationals were given a “thorough medical checkup prior to clearing the boat to continue with her fishing activities.”
Piracy incidents have resurfaced for the first time in nearly a decade. Taking advantage of Western forces’ focus on protecting shipping from attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthis, pirates have made or attempted many hijackings since November, driving up insurance and security costs and adding to a crisis for global shipping companies.
