Bangladesh-flagged bulk service MV Abdullah that was seized by pirates off the Somalia coast

The Indian Navy has responded to an SOS by Bangladesh-flagged bulk service that was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia who took its 23-member crew hostage earlier this week, the Navy stated in a press release on Friday.

The MV Abdullah was crusing from Mozambique’s capital Maputo to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of 55,000 tonnes of coal when it was attacked round noon on Tuesday, the corporate stated.

“On receipt of intimation, the Long-Range Maritime Patrol (LRMP) aircraft was immediately deployed & on locating the MV (Abdullah) in the evening of 12 March, attempted to establish communication to ascertain status of ship’s crew members. However, no response was received from the ship,” stated the Indian Navy.

“The Mission Deployed warship on Maritime Security Operations, which had also been diverted, intercepted the hijacked MV on the morning of 14 March. The safety of the MV’s crew (all Bangladesh nationals) held hostage by the armed pirates was ascertained and the Indian Navy warship continued to maintain in close vicinity of the MV till its arrival in the territorial waters of Somalia,” it added.

Hijackings off Somalia since December have fuelled issues a few resurgence of Indian Ocean raids by opportunistic pirates, approaching high of a separate surge in assaults launched by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

“A group of 15-20 Somali pirates hijacked the ship,” stated Meherul Karim, chief government officer of Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills, which owns the MV Abdullah vessel.

Houthi militia, who management part of Yemen,  have launched scores of drone and missile assaults within the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden focusing on what they deem to be Israeli-linked vessels in response to Israel’s struggle in opposition to the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

International naval forces have been diverted north from the Gulf of Aden into the Red Sea, sparking fears that pirates will exploit the safety hole.