India’s naval forces successfully reclaimed a vessel from Somali pirates off the Indian coast on Saturday, rescuing the crew and putting an end to a three-month ordeal aboard the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier MV Ruen.
The hijacking of the ship in December marked the first successful boarding of a cargo vessel by Somali pirates since 2017.
“The #IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen,” the navy announced on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The Indian warship Kolkata achieved a significant breakthrough “in the last 40 hours, through concerted actions successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender & ensured safe evacuation of 17 crew members,” the navy stated late Saturday.
This operation was a “major success” according to Indian authorities. The interception of the MV Ruen occurred on Friday when the vessel opened fire on the warship. The navy responded within the bounds of international law, employing minimal force to neutralize the pirates’ threat while ensuring the safety of shipping and seafarers.
Fortunately, none of the rescued crew members sustained injuries during the multi-day operation, which involved several naval vessels, helicopters, and aircraft.
The release of the Ruen was hailed by its Bulgarian owner Navibulgar as “a major success not only for us but for the entire global maritime community.”
Navibulgar emphasized that the resolution of this case demonstrates the commitment to maintaining the security of commercial shipping.
Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry expressed its desire for the swift return of the seven rescued Bulgarian crew members, along with the crew of nine from Myanmar and one from Angola.
The recapture of the pirated ship took place nearly 1,400 nautical miles, or 2,600 kilometers, from the Indian coast, as confirmed by the military.
Since its seizure by Somali pirates 380 nautical miles east of the Yemeni island of Socotra in December, the Indian navy had been monitoring the MV Ruen closely. The pirates took the vessel and its remaining 17 crew members to Somalia’s semi-autonomous state of Puntland, where it was moored off the city of Bosaso.
India’s military has intensified anti-piracy efforts in recent months following an increase in maritime assaults, including those by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels in the Red Sea.
While pirate attacks off the Somali coast peaked in 2011, recent incidents indicate a resurgence in piracy activity, particularly around the Horn of Africa.
Analysts note that while Somali piracy doesn’t pose the same level of threat as in 2011, the recent upswing raises concerns about marine security and shipping, especially in crucial trade corridors off Yemen.
Somali pirates typically target “mother ships” such as motorized dhows or fishing trawlers capable of reaching larger vessels over greater distances. Since the Huthi attacks, many cargo ships have slowed down far out at sea, potentially making them more vulnerable to pirate attacks.
