The Indian Navy and European Union naval forces (EUNAVFOR), operating under Operation ATALANTA, have launched an intensive joint maritime surveillance operation to track a Somali Pirate Action Group (PAG) responsible for a series of recent attacks in the Indian Ocean.
The Tanker Hijacking and Rescue
The surveillance operation was triggered by the recent dramatic hijacking of the Maltese-flagged tanker.
- Incident Details: The tanker was attacked on November 6, approximately 700 nautical miles off Mogadishu, by pirates armed with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
- Rescue Operation: European naval forces successfully liberated the tanker on Friday afternoon after a 30-hour ordeal. All 24 crew members were found unharmed, having secured themselves within the vessel’s citadel.
- International Coordination: The rescue showcased coordination between multiple international assets, including the Spanish flagship (which deployed helicopters and a Special Operations Team), Puntland authorities, Japanese P3C aircraft from the Combined Maritime Forces, and the Seychelles Maritime Reconnaissance Patrol Aircraft. The “early show of force” by the naval assets prompted the PAG to abandon the vessel.
Ongoing Threat and Pirate Activity
Despite the successful rescue, the PAG remains at large, posing a continuing threat:
- PAG Status: EUNAVFOR warns that the “mother ship and the pirates remain in the area,” noting that a “coordinated joint operation is ongoing to intercept the dhow used in this attack.”
- Threat Assessment: Maritime authorities maintain that the “threat assessment in the area surrounding the incident remains critical,” urging vessels to exercise extreme caution. They advise vessels to avoid a 100-nautical-mile radius from attack locations.
- Recent Campaign: The hijacking of the vessel was the culmination of an eight-day campaign by the same pirate group, which had also targeted 2 vessels earlier in November. On November 3, the chemical tanker successfully repelled an attack by firing warning shots from armed security personnel.
Resurgence of Piracy
These incidents reflect a troubling resurgence of Somali piracy that began in November 2023. Pirates are utilizing hijacked dhows as “mother ships” to launch attacks hundreds of miles offshore in the Indian Ocean, exploiting a maritime security landscape complicated by Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. Earlier in 2024, the Indian Navy successfully rescued the MV Ruen after it had been held for three months.
The Indian Navy’s role in anti-piracy operations has been significant, often acting as a “First Responder” and protecting merchant shipping convoys in the region.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free Click here to Subscribe!
Source: gCaptain
