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The Tu-142 aircraft was diverted towards the
Chinese ship MV Full City when the Indian Navy
monitored an SOS from it some 850 km from the
nearest Indian coastal point in Gujarat.
Pilots observed a mother vessel and a skiff next
to the ship, warned the pirates on radio of imminent
attack. The aircraft persistently swooped low
over the pirate's vessel to threaten them.
The aircraft, recently updated with modern sensors
and attack systems in Russia, carries missiles
to destroy large ships and submarines. But in
this case, the Indian pilots got in touch with
NATO warships in the area and asked them to reach
towards the Chinese ship.
Nonetheless, the aircraft's persistent warnings
made the pirates flee.
As there were no surface forces in the immediate
vicinity to board MV Full City and sanitise the
ship, the Indian Navy aircraft maintained position
for over three hours, assisting the rescue operation
by coordinating with the NATO Task Force, Indian
Navy spokesman Commander P VS Satish told newsmen.
The operation highlighted the alacrity of the
Indian Navy and also reflected adept international
co-operation maintained by the Indian Navy as
this operation involved co-operation with the
NATO Task Force, the Chinese Task Force and the
Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Beijing.
The Chinese Task Force also thanked the Indian
Navy for its prompt and persistent action in neutralizing
the pirate attack.
"MV Full City now continues its passage
through the waters of the Eastern Arabian Sea
its safety assured by the sustained anti-piracy
vigil being maintained by the Indian Navy and
the Indian Coast Guard, Commander Satish said.
With independent as well as collaborative efforts,
Indian Maritime Forces have reduced the threat
of piracy in the Arabian Sea in general and the
Eastern Arabian Sea in particular. It is particularly
noteworthy that there has been a drop of over
80 per cent in the number of piracy attacks in
the Eastern Arabian Sea.
As a matter of fact, in the month of April 2011,
there was not a single reported piracy attack
in the Eastern Arabian Sea. This demonstrates
the nation's continued determination to assure
safety of merchant shipping in the International
Sea Lanes in the Arabian Sea.
Notably, India is maintaining at least one warship
with onboard helicopters in the Arabian Sea as
part of international anti-piracy operations.
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