Indian Navy Recaptures Pirated Ship Off Horn of Africa

Indian Marine Commandos (MARCOS) have successfully recaptured a pirated Liberian-flagged bulk carrier and safely evacuated all 21 crew members.

UK Maritime Trade Operations reported the Liberian-flagged bulk container ship MV Lila Norfolk was pirated in the Arabian Sea on Thursday.

According to reports, five or six pirates boarded the ship while the crew retreated to the "citadel." Fortunately for the crew and unfortunately for the pirates, the INS Chennai, a Kolkata-class stealth guided missile destroyer, was in the area. The INS Chennai is in the Arabian Sea as part of a three-ship flotilla dispatched after a drone from Iran hit the Liberian-flagged tanker Chem Pluto.

DRONE ATTACK ON MV CHEM PLUTO-Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre,Mumbai received information regarding fire onboard MV Chem Pluto. The Merchant ship with 20 Indian &01 Vietnamese Crew was reportedly attacked by a suspected drone strike on aerial platform.(1/6) pic.twitter.com/CpioW9MfT9
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 23, 2023

Indian aircraft overflow the Lia Norfolk and established contact with the crew who remained safely barricaded in the "citadel." The combination of being unable to gain complete control of the ship and the overflight by Indian aircraft seems to have convinced the pirates to abandon their project.

Shortly after 1 p.m. local time, Indian MARCOS boarded the Lia Norfolk.

🚨 Top deck of the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk sanitised by the Marine Commandos of Indian Navy

All the crew, including 15 Indians, onboard the hijacked vessel MV Lila Norfolk have been secured and are safe: Military officials pic.twitter.com/y0mydfq2dK
— OSINT Updates (@OsintUpdates) January 5, 2024

After boarding the ship, it was thoroughly searched for pirates who'd missed the boat home, and the crew was released from the "citadel."

First images of the @IndianNavy MARCOS anti-piracy action on board the hijacked merchant vessel MV Lila Norfolk off Somalia coast. Images from an @IndianNavy SeaGuardian drone that had eyes on the op. https://t.co/S4057ucBbv pic.twitter.com/6eegMJaseB
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) January 5, 2024

According to reports, all 21 crew members, including 15 Indian nationals, were evacuated, and the Indian Navy had control of the ship.