The Indian Navy described the successful rescue as evidence of its operational preparedness and ability to undertake complex maritime security missions through coordination between the armed forces.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy rescued all 20 crew members of a hijacked fishing vessel after carrying out a coordinated operation lasting more than 48 hours off the northeastern coast of Somalia. The operation involved a mission-deployed warship, a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Marine Commandos and an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft.The Navy tracked the vessel, contained its movement and launched a tactical intervention to overcome the armed pirate threat. All 20 crew members were rescued safely, with no casualties or injuries.The fishing vessel Azini had been hijacked by an armed pirate group earlier last month. The incident raised serious maritime security concerns, as the pirates could potentially have used the vessel as a ‘mother ship’ to launch further attacks against merchant ships operating in the region.The Indian Navy responded by deploying a warship and a maritime reconnaissance aircraft to locate and intercept the hijacked vessel. The operation involved sustained surveillance, coordinated tracking…