Navy thwarts pirate attack off Mumbai coast

The Indian Navy was contacted by a Dubai-based maritime agency for assistance early Thursday morning around 6am, as a merchant vessel was attacked by pirates 450 nautical miles off the Mumbai coast.

The vessel, named MV BC Orinoco, had fourteen crew members, five from Ukraine and nine Philippine nationals, who had been locked inside the engine room and steering compartment. They had contacted their Dubai-based agents from there.

The Indian Navy detached one missile corvette INS Veer to intercept the vessel, and also sailed a capital ship INS Delhi with a team of Marcos onboard. The navy’s long-range patrol aircraft was also deployed for surveillance, and a dornier aircraft from the Indian Coast Guard was kept on standby.

By daybreak, Marcos had entered the ship, but by then the pirates had fled from the vessel. Weapons like crowbars and knives were found onboard.