India pledges 'serious efforts' over ship hijack
India is making serious efforts to free the crew of a vessel seized off the coast of Yemen last month, and warned that the threat from maritime piracy was increasing.
By Agencies |
NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday said she is making "serious efforts" to free the crew of a vessel seized off the coast of Yemen last month, and warned that the threat from maritime piracy was increasing.
The ship was making its way from the Suez canal to Mumbai when it was hijacked with a crew of 22 on board, 18 of them Indians.
"The ship is already in a Somalian port... We are closely monitoring the situation and some negotiations are also going on to find a solution," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters in New Delhi.
"Serious attempts are being made on this issue," he said without elaborating.
Somali waters are the most dangerous in the world for pirate attacks. The International Maritime Bureau reported more than 24 known attacks in the area between April and June, and more have been committed in recent months.
India, which sees itself as a regional maritime power, in February called on navies of the Asia-Pacific region for a joint response to piracy.
"The government is in the process of finalising a strategy to meet the increasing threat of piracy in the high seas," Antony said.
"But as a policy the government would not carry out hot pursuit of pirates, as it has wider implications.
"The Indian navy is in touch with other navies and since piracy occurs in the Indian Ocean rim, especially in Somalian waters, we are in the process of discussing charter proposals with other regional navies," he added.
Besides 18 Indians, two Filipinos, a Bangladeshi and a Russian were on the Hong Kong-registered tanker when it was boarded by 15 armed pirates.
Maritime experts say many attacks go unreported along Somalia's 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) of coast, which is infested by pirates who operate high-powered speedboats and carry heavy machine guns and rocket launchers.
The ship was making its way from the Suez canal to Mumbai when it was hijacked with a crew of 22 on board, 18 of them Indians.
"The ship is already in a Somalian port... We are closely monitoring the situation and some negotiations are also going on to find a solution," Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters in New Delhi.
"Serious attempts are being made on this issue," he said without elaborating.
Somali waters are the most dangerous in the world for pirate attacks. The International Maritime Bureau reported more than 24 known attacks in the area between April and June, and more have been committed in recent months.
India, which sees itself as a regional maritime power, in February called on navies of the Asia-Pacific region for a joint response to piracy.
ADVERTISEMENT
"The government is in the process of finalising a strategy to meet the increasing threat of piracy in the high seas," Antony said.
"But as a policy the government would not carry out hot pursuit of pirates, as it has wider implications.
"The Indian navy is in touch with other navies and since piracy occurs in the Indian Ocean rim, especially in Somalian waters, we are in the process of discussing charter proposals with other regional navies," he added.
Besides 18 Indians, two Filipinos, a Bangladeshi and a Russian were on the Hong Kong-registered tanker when it was boarded by 15 armed pirates.
ADVERTISEMENT
Maritime experts say many attacks go unreported along Somalia's 3,700 kilometres (2,300 miles) of coast, which is infested by pirates who operate high-powered speedboats and carry heavy machine guns and rocket launchers.
Download
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
