Will ensure IOR is free, safe: Navy chief amid pirate strikes

NEW DELHI: India, as the largest resident naval power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), will continue to take action against the threats posed by piracy and drone attacks to ensure the region remains safe, secure and stable, Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday.

"This is the Indian Ocean, named after us, and if we don't take action, then who will? Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure there is safety and security in the IOR. We will ensure it remains free, open, inclusive, and that the rules-based order is maintained," Admiral Kumar said.

Navy has completed 100 days of stepped-up "maritime security operations" under the aegis of "Operation Sankalp" in the Gulf of Aden and adjoining areas, Arabian Sea, and off the east coast of Somalia amid the continuing attacks by Houthi rebels and Somali pirates that have disrupted sea trade in the region. "Piracy has resurfaced as an industry to gain from the disorder in the region (Israel-Hamas conflict)," he said.


On Saturday morning, destroyer INS Kolkata also reached Mumbai with the 35 Somali pirates apprehended in the 40-hour operation to rescue hijacked Malta-flagged merchant vessel Ruen and its 17-member crew, which also saw marine commandos being para-dropped from a C-17 aircraft and exchange of gunfire, around 2,600km from the Indian coast on March 15-16, as was reported by TOI.

The pirates, who had commandeered MV Ruen for use as a "pirate mother ship" and even shot down a spotter drone launched from INS Kolkata, were handed over to Mumbai Police for further legal action under Indian laws, specifically the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act, 2022.

"The Maritime Anti-Piracy Act has enabled us to visit, board and search pirated ships. It's a great enabler. In the last 100 days, we have made around 1,000 boardings," Admiral Kumar said.

The stepped-up naval deployments since mid-Dec have involved over 5,000 personnel at sea, over 450 "ship days" with 21 warships, and 900 hours of flying by maritime surveillance aircraft to address threats in the region.