NS Kolkata, with the 35 apprehended pirates returned to Mumbai on 23 March 2024. They had been handed over to the native police for additional authorized motion in accordance with the Maritime Anti Piracy Act 2022.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini
Warship INS Kolkata, carrying 35 pirates who had been apprehended in an operation off the coast of Somalia, reached Mumbai on Saturday, March 23 morning, the Navy mentioned.
These pirates had been then handed over to the Mumbai police, it mentioned.
The train was undertaken as a part of the continuing Operation Sankalp, whereby Indian Navy ships are deployed within the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the protection of seafarers and mercantile commerce passing by the area.
“INS Kolkata, with the 35 apprehended pirates, returned to Mumbai on March 23 and handed over the pirates to the local police for further legal action in accordance with Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti Piracy Act 2022,” the Navy mentioned.
In an operation lasting over 40 hours that commenced within the early hours of March 15, INS Kolkata intercepted Pirate Ship ex-MV Ruen within the Arabian Sea primarily based on inputs obtained by Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre -Indian Ocean Region from UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations).
Mother Ship
The ship was getting used as a Mother Ship for enterprise piracy assaults and hijacking of merchantmen, it mentioned.
INS Kolkata began shadowing the Pirate Ship within the early hours of March 15.
The vessel, upon sighting INS Kolkata, reversed course and began heading in direction of the Somali Coast. Several armed pirates had been noticed on higher deck of the ship, the Navy mentioned.
INS Kolkata directed the pirate ship to cease for investigation in accordance with International Law, particularly the United Nations Conventions on the Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS).
However, the pirate ship refused to conform and as an alternative opened fireplace.
“INS Kolkata thereafter acted in self-defence and used kinetic measures required to disable the ship and compel the pirates to surrender,” it mentioned.
INS Subhadra joined INS Kolkata within the operation. Further, Indian Navy undertook lengthy vary deployment and paradrop of Marine Commandos over the ocean in neighborhood of the pirate ship utilizing C17s in coordination with Indian Air Force.
Aerial surveillance for the operation was undertaken by Indian Navy P8I plane, Sea Guardian UAV, and the ship’s integral helicopters and spotter drones.
“In the face of decisive action by the Indian Navy, all pirates onboard surrendered. The 35 pirates and 17 crew members were duly taken into custody and shifted to Indian Naval ships,” it mentioned.
The Indian Navy searched and sanitised the ship with respect to arms, ammunition and contraband, rendering it protected. In addition, evaluation of seaworthiness and important repairs had been undertaken by thenaval technical staff, for making the ship match for additional voyage.