On February 2, INS Sharda intercepted the FV Omari and deployed her helicopter and boats to force the pirates to release the vessel and its crew. This is the fourth ship that the Indian Navy has rescued from Somali pirates this week.
The Navy had previously rescued Iranian-flagged vessels, FV Naeemi and FV Iman. It also assisted in the rescue of a Sri Lankan fishing boat as part of a coordinated operation with the Seychelles Defence Forces and the Sri Lanka Navy. The Navy’s remotely piloted aircraft identified the vessel, and INS Sharda was redirected to intercept it.
To safeguard maritime security in and around the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has taken a proactive approach, collaborating with regional and extra-regional warships and forces. It has boosted surveillance and sent task groups of ten vessels to counter growing risks such as Houthi strikes and the rise of piracy.
The Indian Navy units were stationed off Djibouti, the Gulf of Aden, portions of the Arabian Gulf, and Somalia’s east coast. In addition, information exchange and intelligence cooperation are taking place with friendly foreign states to determine the source of such attacks and occurrences.