The Indian Navy on Sunday apprehended a hijacked cargo vessel, m.v. Nafis-1, off the Mumbai coast, and detained nine crew members, all foreigners, and recovered automatic weapons and arms.
The 500-tonne vessel, drifting for 20 days after its machinery broke down at sea, was apprehended approximately 170 nautical miles northwest of Mumbai, an official release said. Authorities suspect the vessel might have been employed for smuggling contraband. Nafis-1 is being towed to Porbandar, where the crew — five Yemenis, two Tanzanians, one Kenyan and one Somali — and the ship will be handed over to the local police and other investigating agencies.
The Indian Naval Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft IL 38 SD first spotted Nafis-1 on August 12 at a distance of 250 nautical miles during a surveillance mission in the East Arabian Sea. The vessel had been under continuous surveillance since then.
A day later, INS Mysore, a guided missile destroyer tasked with intercepting the vessel, arrived near the cargo ship. “Notwithstanding adverse weather and rough seas, with wave heights of 12-15 feet, INS Mysore swiftly launched two helicopters with marine commandos (MARCOS) to embark the vessel. Overwhelmed by the swift action, the crew did not pose any resistance,” the release said.
Published - August 15, 2011 12:12 pm IST
