Indian Navy Helps Hijacked Ship in Arabian Sea

• 20 Dec 2023

For Prelims: Indian Navy, Arabian Sea, Piracy, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, UNCLOS

For Mains: Maritime Piracy and its impact on trade, India's initiatives and collaborations to counter maritime piracy

Source: TH

Why in News?

In a recent maritime incident, the Malta-flagged Vessel MV Ruen fell victim to pirates in the Arabian Sea,. Responding swiftly, the Indian Navy, strategically based in the piracy-prone Gulf of Aden, intercepted the hijacked vessel, closely monitoring its trajectory toward the Somali coast.

• The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation Atalanta, a maritime security operation in the western Indian Ocean, joined the anti-piracy effort.

What is Maritime Piracy?

• About:
  • Article 101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) outlines acts constituting piracy.
    • These acts include violence, detention, or depredation committed for private ends on the high seas or outside the jurisdiction of any state.
  • These acts are carried out with the intent of personal gain and may include the seizure of another ship, its cargo, or the kidnapping of its passengers or crew.
  • It is considered a serious maritime crime and is subject to international laws and conventions.
• Strongest Zones of Pirate Activity:
  • Northwest Africa, the Gulf of Guinea, Red Sea, Somalia, Horn of Africa, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean, Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

• Global Initiatives Related to Maritime Piracy:
  • United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS):
    • It establishes the legal framework for combating piracy, as outlined in. The UN Security Council and General Assembly have consistently emphasized the importance of international cooperation in addressing piracy and armed robbery at sea, stressing the applicability of UNCLOS in combating maritime threats.
  • Operation Prosperity Guardian:
    • The United States has initiated Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational security initiative to ensure security in the Red Sea.
  • Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the safety of Maritime Navigation (1988):
    • It is a multilateral treaty. The main purpose of the treaty is to ensure that appropriate action is taken against people who commit unlawful acts against ships.
    • It was adopted in 1988 at the Suppression of Unlawful Acts(SUA) Convention in Rome.
  • Combined Maritime Forces (CMF):
    • The CMF is a multinational naval partnership with primary focus areas aimed at defeating terrorism, preventing piracy, fostering regional cooperation, and promoting a secure maritime environment.
    • CMF has 39 member nations including India.
• India’s Initiatives Related to Maritime Piracy:
  • SAGAR policy.
  • India reiterated its support for the UN Convention on Law of Sea (UNCLOS).
  • International Fusion Centre (IFC).
  • Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
  • Enhanced Technical Surveillance of Coastal and Offshore Areas:
    • Coastal Surveillance Network.
    • National Command Control Communication and Intelligence Network.
    • National Automatic Identification System.
    • National Maritime Domain Awareness Project.
    • National Committee for Strengthening Maritime and Coastal Security.

What are the Key Facts About the Gulf of Aden?

• The Gulf of Aden, an arm of the Indian Ocean is situated between Yemen on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia in Africa.
  • It is bounded to the south by Somalia and the Socotra Islands, north by Yemen, east by the Arabian Sea, and west by Djibouti.
• The gulf – roughly 900 kilometers long and 500 kilometers wide is an important waterway for transporting Persian Gulf oil.
  • The gulf connects the Red Sea to the Arabian Sea via the Strait of Bab el Mandeb. It forms an essential oil transport route between Europe and the Far East.
• Its marine life is rich in quantity and variety. Its coastline lacks large-scale fishing facilities but supports many fishing towns, as well as the major ports Aden and Djibouti.
• In recent years, the gulf has received a lot of attention due to piracy, terrorism and refugee smuggling.