As this publication reported last night, local Somali media reported that the Indian Navy was moving against the M/V Ruen, which was hijcaked in December by Somali pirates. This hijacking and subsequent mother-ship operations are the first observed since the 2017 piracy conflagration.
#IndianNavy thwarts designs of Somali pirates to hijack ships plying through the region by intercepting ex-MV Ruen.
The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on #14Dec 23, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of #piracy on high… pic.twitter.com/gOtQJvNpZb
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 16, 2024
By 0400 EST, UK Maritime Security company Ambrey confirmed that Indian Navy small boats had approached the M/V Ruen and exchanged gunfire with the pirates. As of 0900 EST, the Indian Navy had established communications with the original crew of the Ruen which is reportedly still onboard. Those hostages include foreign nationals from Bulgaria, Angola, and Myanmar.
This is developing.
