The Indian Navy’s re-capturing of the 'Ruen' from pirates off Somalia’s coast has showed how Delhi’s military has developed special forces capabilities on par with some of the world’s best, analysts said. The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet. The success of the operation marks the Indian Navy as a top-class force in terms of training, command and control and other capabilities, according to the Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs. The risk was minimized by using a coordinated force that includes use of a warship, drones, fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and marine commandos. Spanish, Japanese and Indian warships had tracked the bulk carrier as it was taken into Somali territorial waters. When the 'Ruen', now operated by a pirate crew, last week left Somali waters with the intent of committing acts of piracy on the high seas, the Indian Navy made moves to intercept it. The destroyer INS 'Kolkata', operating in the area to help ensure international maritime security, used a ship-launched drone to confirm the 'Ruen' was being operated by armed pirates. After the pirates fired on the drone, destroying it, and then on the Indian warship itself, the INS 'Kolkata' responded by firing on the 'Ruen', disabling its steering and navigation. As the INS 'Kolkata' sought the surrender of the pirates, the commandos parachuted in after a 10-hour flight from India. Rafts were also dropped into the ocean from the large transport for marines to reach the 'Ruen'. The Indian show of force proved too much for the pirates. Due to sustained pressure and calibrated actions by the Indian Navy over the last 40 hours, all 35 Somali pirates surrendered. Bulgarian leaders, including President Rumen Radev, thanked India and its Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the operation. The incident highlighted the professionalism of the Indian Navy, and Delhi’s marine commando force, known as MARCOS, had learned from its US and British counterparts. The captured pirates were due to arrive in India on March 23 and will be handed over to the law enforcement agencies for prosecution.
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RUEN
The 35 Somali pirates who surrendered to the Indian navy after it freed the'Ruen' are being brought back to India to stand trial. The pirates had hijacked the bulk carrier with the intention of using it as a mothership to launch attacks on other commercial vessels in the region. They also shot down a small observation drone flown from the destroyer INS 'Kolkata' during the rescue operation. The pirates opened fire on the warship, thereby implicating in an act of aggression against the Indian Navy, which is why they are being brought back to India. In a calibrated response in line with international laws, the INS 'Kolkata' disabled the ship's steering system and navigation aids, forcing it to stop. The Indian Navy forced the pirates to surrender and secured the release of 17 crew members from Bulgaria, Angola and the Myanmar, without any injuries. The pirates will be prosecuted in accordance with international law and guidelines. There was concern that if these pirates were allowed to leave, they could regroup and restart their attacks.
YANGTZE CROWN
On March 6, 2024, at 12.35 a.m. three perpetrators boarded the 'Yangtze Crown', en route from Corpus Christi to Tianjin off Pulau Cula in pos. 1° 3.33' N 02° 103.40.23' E, The pirates stole engine spare parts. The ship berthed at the Tianjin Port Fourth Stevedoring Company Terminal on March 18.
RUEN
The operation of the INS 'Kolkata' to re-capture the 'Ruen' lasted 40 hours. Through concerted actions the crew successfully cornered and coerced all 35 Pirates to surrender and ensured the safe evacuation of the 17 crew members in the evening of March 16 without any injury almost 1400 nautrical miles from the Indian Coast, and forced the pirate ship to stop through calibrated actions which were augmented by the INS'Subhadra', RPA 'Hale', the maritime patrol aircraft 'P 81' and Marcos Prahars air-dropped by a C-17 aircraft. The 'Ruen' has also been sanitised for the presence of illegal arms, ammunition and contraband. Reports with photos: https://www.timesnownews.com/india/thats-what-friends-are-for-india-bulgarias-sweet-exchange-after-rescue-of-hijacked-ship-article-108567452
ABDULLAH
Somali police and international navies were preparing on March 18 to attack the 'Abdullah', that was hijacked by pirates in the latest of more than 20 attacks since November by Somali pirates, two days after Indian commandos rescued the 'Ruen', also held by pirates. The police force from the semi-autonomous region of Puntland was on high alert and prepared to participate in an operation against the pirates holding the 'Abdullah', after they got reports that international navies were planning an attack. On March 17, the Puntland police said they had seized a vehicle that was transporting the narcotic khat to be supplied to the pirates on board the 'Abdullah'. Meherul Karim, chief executive officer of SR Shipping, stated on March 18 that they had not been informed of any such plan: "The safety of our crew members is our top priority. We couldn't afford to risk the lives of our sailors, so we declined the proposal for a rescue operation by the EU Maritime Force and the Indian Navy. We have already informed the government to deny any further approach to conduct military operations. The news of preparation to launch an attack caught our attention and we are trying to communicate with the government as we do not have any plan to allow any military intervention on the ship as there is always a risk of casualties on board." The ship was located four nautical miles from the Godobjiraan shore in north-eastern Somalia as of March 17.