News

Wing Commander Akshay Saxena of the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been awarded the Vayu Sena Medal for his exemplary bravery in a high-risk anti-piracy operation and rescuing the 'Ruen' from Somali pirates. On Dec 14, 2023, the pirates hijacked the vessel about 380 nautical miles east of Socotra Island, in the Arabian Sea. They took 17 crew members hostage and sailed the vessel towards the Somali coast, where they began negotiations with the shipowner. However, instead of anchoring off Somalia, the pirates decided to set sail again, likely intending to use the 'Ruen' as a mother ship for launching attacks on other vessels in the Indian Ocean. On March 15, 2024, an Indian Navy long-range maritime patrol intercepted the ship about 260 nautical miles east of Somalia. The Indian Warships INS 'Kolkata' and INS 'Subhadra' were positioned alongside the hijacked vessel. In response, the pirates opened fire on the warships and shot down one of 'Kolkata'’s surveillance drones. The Indian military then quickly deployed a team of 18 marine commandos (Marcos) and an IAF C-17 transport aircraft for a precision airdrop mission. Wing Commander Akshay Saxena, as the pilot of the C-17, led the operation that involved the insertion of the commandos into the sea near the 'Ruen'. This risky operation required Saxena to navigate through a third country’s airspace for nearly four hours without authorisation and in complete secrecy. Saxena flew the C-17 at a low level, turning off all the aircraft’s communication systems to avoid detection. As they approached the drop zone, the location was changed, requiring the crew to adapt quickly. Despite the change, Saxena executed the airdrop smoothly, dropping the 18 commandos and their inflatable boats into the water near the 'Ruen'. The commandos boarded the vessel, confronted 35 pirates aboard, and forced them to stand down and surrender. The Indian Ministry of Defense commended Saxena for his “flawless execution of an extremely gruelling mission” and for displaying “exceptional courage, dynamic leadership, outstanding professionalism, and steadfast determination.” He maintained situational awareness during the operation, which lasted for over 10 hours. The rescue of the 'Ruen' also marked the first-ever insertion of marine commandos via airdrop on the high seas, proving India’s readiness to handle piracy threats in distant waters. The Indian Navy has also recommended Lieutenant Commander Sourabh Malik for a gallantry award. Malik and his Commando squad carried out an opposed boarding of the fishing vessel 'Omari' on Feb 2, 2024. Despite the hijackers’ attempts to stop the boarding with heavy and constant small arms fire, they captured seven armed pirates and freed 19 fishermen. Report with photos: https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/iaf-pilot-honoured-for-10-hour-mission-to-rescue-hijacked-ship-from-somali-pirates/

Statement from the Mission to Seafarers on the release of the Galaxy Leader hostages By : The Ven. Dr Peter Rouch, Secretary General, The Mission to Seafarers “The release of the crew of the Galayy Leader is a moment of profound relief. Not only for the hostages and their families, but for everyone who has supported them throughout this ordeal, whether through prayers, advocacy, or other efforts to secure their freedom. At The Mission to Seafarers, we have been honoured to stand alongside the families of the crew who have also been severely impacted by this plight during these 430 days of unimaginable fear and uncertainty. In collaboration with industry partners, our dedicated teams in Jordan and Cyprus have provided a range of support services to these families. We have journeyed with the Galaxy Leader families, facilitating the engagement of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) with them as one of the foundations of the IMO’s work to secure the crew’s release. We will also remain available to assist as the crew transition home to be reunited with their families. This incident is a stark reminder of the threats faced by seafarers, which are often outside of their control. Seafarers must never be used as geopolitical pawns. Their rights to perform their lawful duties must be upheld without compromise. Today, as we express our deepest gratitude for those whose efforts made the release possible, we also celebrate the extraordinary resilience demonstrated by the crew and their families. Their courage in the face of such trauma serves as an inspiration to us all.”

On Jan 22, 2025, at 2.30 a.m. the 'Delfin' was boarded by five to six perpetrators, armed with gun like objecfs and knives, 6.8 nautical miles west of Pulau Cula in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS), in pos. 1° 3.9' N 103° 36.7' E. The robbers stole generator parts and escaped.

The Houthi movement has released the 25 crew members of the 'Galaxy Leader' on Jan 22. The crew, who come from the Philippines, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Mexico, have reportedly been brought to Oman on board a plane. The ship ,which is owned by Ray Car Carriers, which is controlled by Israeli billionaire Abraham Rami Ungar, remained stuck on the beach of the port city of Hodeida.. The release came after a ceasefire agreement was reached between Israel and Hamas. The ceasefire also meant that the Houthis have stopped their attacks on international shipping. However, Israeli or Israeli-owned ships remain at risk of attack. US and British aircraft have attacked Houthi targets in Yemen more than 260 times since the conflict began. Report with photo: https://nos.nl/artikel/2552822-houthi-s-zeggen-bemanning-van-gekaapt-schip-na-jaar-te-hebben-vrijgelaten

On Jan 26, 2025, at 2.15 a.m. the 'Asian Enterprise' was boarded by two perpetrators, armed with gun like objecfs, 2.7 nautical miles west of Pulau Cula in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) of the Singapore Strait (SS), in pos. 1° 3.3' N 103° 40.2' E. The robbers stole engine spares and escaped.