The Indian Navy swiftly moved to neutralise a potential piracy threat in the Western Indian Ocean, ensuring the safety of merchant vessel MV Mashallah 1 near the Gulf of Aden. Acting on intelligence inputs about suspicious activity in the region, frontline warship INS Kolkata was deployed to investigate and deter any hostile elements.
“Responding swiftly to inputs of pirate activity near merchant vessel MV Mashallah 1 in the Western Indian Ocean, INS Kolkata undertook prompt action to investigate and deter the threat. This timely intervention ensured safety of the merchant vessel and prevented a possible piracy attack,” the spokesperson for Indian Navy said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“As a #PreferredSecurityPartner and #FirstResponder in the region, #IndianNavy remains committed to safeguarding merchant shipping, countering piracy and ensuring safe and secure seas,” the post read.
Two years ago, the Indian Navy successfully concluded a high-intensity anti-piracy operation in the Arabian Sea, with INS Kolkata intercepting the hijacked merchant vessel MV Ruen, which had been under the control of Somali pirates since December 2023. Acting on surveillance inputs, the warship tracked and engaged the pirate vessel about 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. After confirming the presence of armed pirates via a drone—later shot down in hostile fire—the Navy responded in a calibrated manner, disabling the ship’s navigation systems and forcing it to halt.
Following over 40 hours of sustained operations, including aerial surveillance and the deployment of marine commandos, all 35 pirates surrendered, and the 17 crew members were safely rescued without injury. The operation, conducted nearly 1,400 nautical miles from India, also involved additional naval and air assets, underscoring India’s capability to project power and ensure maritime security in the region.