Onboard are 35 pirates who will be transferred to the custody of the Yellow Gate police upon arrival.
The pirates were captured on March 16 following a 40-hour operation conducted by the Indian Navy and marine commandos, who were air-dropped by the Indian Air Force.
Pirates have been launching attacks on numerous ships, some even utilising drones for targeting purposes.
On March 16, INS Kolkata intercepted the MV Ruen, thwarting the Somali pirates’ attempt to hijack ships traversing the region.
The Bulgarian-owned merchant vessel had been seized by Somali pirates in December 2023 and remained under their control until then.
As part of maritime security operations, the Indian Navy conducts thorough surveillance in the region, monitoring traffic in areas vital to India’s interests.
Through analysis of surveillance data, INS Kolkata was able to pinpoint the movement of MV Ruen and was directed to intercept the vessel approximately 260 nautical miles east of Somalia.
On the morning of March 15, the ship was intercepted, confirming the presence of armed pirates through a ship-launched drone. In a hostile act, the pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian naval warship.
Responding with measured precision, INS Kolkata disabled the ship’s steering system and navigational aids, compelling the pirate vessel to halt.
The Indian navy ship maintained its position near the pirate ship and initiated forceful negotiations, leading to the surrender of all 35 pirates and the release of MV Ruen.
Additionally, all 17 original crew members of MV Ruen were safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injuries.
The vessel underwent a thorough inspection, resulting in the confiscation of illegal arms, ammunition, and contraband.
The Indian Navy’s efforts in the ongoing anti-piracy operation, situated 1,400 nautical miles (2,600 km) from mainland India, were reinforced by the deployment of INS Subhadra in the area on March 16, along with the air-dropping of marine commandos by C-17 aircraft the same afternoon.
Additionally, surveillance of the pirate vessel was maintained by the P-8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
Commencing with the interception of MV Ruen, which was carrying approximately 37,800 tonnes of cargo valued at around one million dollars, the pirates onboard will be charged under the Maritime Piracy Act, with legal proceedings overseen by the Yellow Gate police in Mumbai.