Indian Navy, Seychelles Defence Forces, and Sri Lanka Navy Rescue Hijacked Sri Lankan Fishing Vessel

In a collaborative and multilateral operation, the Indian Navy, in conjunction with the Seychelles Defence Forces and the Sri Lanka Navy, successfully responded to the hijacking of a Sri Lankan fishing vessel, rescuing it from pirates. The incident occurred on the Sri Lankan-flagged fishing trawler LORENZO PUTHA 04, located about 955 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia, where three pirates had hijacked the vessel on January 27, 2024.

The Indian Navy swiftly deployed INS Sharda and tasked HALE Sea Guardian to locate and intercept the hijacked fishing vessel. Operational coordination and information sharing between Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and India's International Liaison Officers at IFC IOR, New Delhi, played a crucial role in tracking down the hijacked vessel. Ultimately, the Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG) aboard SCGS Topaz intercepted the vessel in Seychelles' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on January 29, 2024.

All six crew members are safe, and the three pirates surrendered to the Seychelles Coast Guard. The vessel is currently being escorted to Mahe, Seychelles.