In a dramatic turn of events at sea, the Indian naval warship INS Chennai arrived at the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk off the coast of Somalia on Friday. Military officials informed ANI that the Indian warship issued a warning to the pirates aboard, instructing them to abandon the vessel. The INS Chennai has also deployed its helicopter, with Marine Commandos (MARCOS) prepared for potential operations. Officials confirmed the safety of all Indian crew members on board.
Earlier reports indicated that the merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk had been hijacked by pirates approximately 300 nautical miles east of Somalia. The vessel was en route from Port Du Aco in Brazil to Khalifa Bin Salman in Bahrain when the hijacking occurred.
The Indian Navy’s Mission Deployed Platforms responded swiftly to the attempted hijacking of the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier. Upon receiving a message on the UKMTO portal about the presence of around five to six unknown armed personnel on board on Thursday evening, the Indian Navy took immediate action.
In response to the situation, the Indian Navy launched a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and redirected INS Chennai, which was initially deployed for maritime security operations, to assist the hijacked vessel. The MPA conducted a flyover of the vessel on Friday morning, establishing contact and ensuring the safety of the crew.
The ongoing operation underscores the swift and decisive response of the Indian Navy in addressing maritime security threats, particularly those involving piracy off the coast of Somalia.