Indian Navy ship nabs nine pirates

After successfully combating pirates in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy has arrested nine pirates off the island nation of Seychelles, an official said.

“Our ship INS Nirdeshak, along with a French warship and Spanish frigate, arrested nine pirates when they were trying to hijack Italian cruise liner MS Melody,” a senior naval official said.

The operation took place on Sunday when MS Melody was attacked off northern Seychelles. Pirates armed with automatic rifles had attacked the cruise ship with 991 passengers and 536 crew on board on Saturday evening, but MS Melody, owned by Italy’s MSC Crociere SA, was able to fend them off, with its security personnel returning fire. The vessel simultaneously sent out an SOS, leading to the international response. “A Chetak helicopter was launched after coordinating with the French Navy, which also had some reconnaissance aircraft in the area,” the official said.

INS Nirdeshak, a hydrographic survey vessel, is equipped with a Chetak and interceptor boats for undertaking anti-piracy missions.