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India Navy News

25 Mar 2024

India Brings 35 Somali Pirates to Mumbai

Indian naval forces seized the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Ruen that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members. All 35 pirates aboard the ship surrendered. (Photo: Indian Navy)

The Indian navy handed over 35 Somali pirates to the police in Mumbai on Saturday, after 100 days of anti-piracy operations east of the Red Sea, where piracy has resurfaced for the first time in nearly a decade.India, the largest national force in the Gulf of Aden and northern Arabian Sea region, captured the pirates from the cargo ship Ruen last week, three months after it was hijacked off the Somali coast.Taking advantage of Western forces' focus on protecting shipping from attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi militants…

20 Mar 2024

India to Prosecute 35 Pirates Who Hijacked Ship Off Somalia

Indian naval forces seized the Maltese-flagged bulk carrier Ruen that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members. All 35 pirates aboard the ship surrendered. (Photo: Indian Navy)

India will bring in and prosecute 35 Somali pirates its navy captured on a hijacked ship off Somalia, a navy official said, in a departure from its recent practice of rescuing vessels and crew but leaving the disarmed pirates at sea.The captured pirates are due to arrive in India on Saturday and will be handed over to the law enforcement agencies, the official said. He declined to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to the media.The exact charges against the pirates were not immediately clear…

18 Mar 2024

Houthi Attacks Must Ease for Salvage of Two Vessels, IMO Head Says

On March 2 at approximately 2:15 a.m. (Sanaa time), Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, UK-owned bulk carrier, sank in the Red Sea after being struck by an Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on Feb. 18. The ship had been slowly taking on water since the attack. (Photo: U.S. Central Command)

Efforts to limit environmental damage from a cargo vessel that sank after a Houthi missile strike and another abandoned during a fiery assault are on hold until attacks on ships ease, the United Nations' maritime shipping regulatory agency said on Monday.The UK-owned Rubymar last month became the first vessel lost since the Houthis began targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea area in November. The bulk carrier with 21,000 metric tons of fertiliser contained in its cargo hold…

18 Mar 2024

Somali Forces, Foreign Navies Prepare Attack on Hijacked Ship

Bulk carrier Abdullah was hijacked off the coast of Somalia last week. (Photo: EUNAVFOR)

Somali police and international navies were preparing on Monday to attack a commercial ship that was hijacked by pirates last week, the Puntland region's police force said, two days after Indian commandos rescued another cargo vessel held by pirates.The MV Abdullah was hijacked off the coast of Somalia last week, the latest of more than 20 attacks since November by Somali pirates who had laid dormant for nearly a decade.On Saturday, the Indian navy rescued another cargo vessel, the Maltese-flagged MV Ruen, which had been seized in December, freeing its 17 crew members and arresting 35 pirates.

07 Mar 2024

Ship Evacuated After First Civilian Fatalities in Houthis' Red Sea Attacks

(Photo: U.S. Central Command)

India's navy evacuated all 20 crew from a stricken vessel in the Red Sea on Thursday, after a Houthi attack killed three seafarers in the first civilian fatalities from the Yemeni group's campaign against the key shipping route.The Iran-aligned militants fired a missile at the Barbados-flagged, Greek-operated True Confidence on Wednesday about 50 nautical miles off the southern Yemeni port of Aden, setting it ablaze.In a statement, the owners and manager said all 20 crew and three…

29 Jan 2024

Trafigura Assesses Red Sea Risks after Tanker Attack by Houthis

(Credit: Indian Navy)

Commodities trader Trafigura said on Saturday it was assessing the security risks of further Red Sea voyages after firefighters put out a blaze on a tanker attacked by Yemen's Houthi group a day earlier.The U.S. military said a U.S. Navy ship and other vessels provided assistance after the Marlin Luanda was hit by a Houthi anti-ship missile."No further vessels operating on behalf of Trafigura are currently transiting the Gulf of Aden and we continue to assess carefully the risks involved in any voyage…

05 Jan 2024

India Navy Rescues Bulk Carrier Crew After Arabian Sea Hijack Attempt

(Screenshot from a video shared by the Indian Navy on social media)

The Indian Navy on Friday rescued the crew of a merchant vessel after its attempted hijack in the Arabian Sea and said it had not found any pirates on board.An Indian Navy warship intercepted the Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk bulk carrier less than a day after it had received a report that the vessel had been hijacked about 460 nautical miles off Somalia.About five to six armed people boarded the vessel on Thursday, according to a report received by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency…

18 Jul 2019

Indian Warships Staying in PG, Won't Join U.S. Coalition

A US Navy oiler underway and engaged in unrep operations. (CREDIT: Nicholas Burgaines)

Indian warships escorting merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf will remain deployed for the longer term, officials with direct knowledge of the matter said, as tensions between Iran and Western powers rise.But the two ships, backed by surveillance aircraft, will not be part of a military coalition that the United States is assembling to safeguard the waters off Iran near the Straits of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil moves, the two officials said.Since June following attacks on tankers that the United States blamed on Iran and Iran-aligned fighters…

20 Jun 2019

Navy: India deploys ships in Gulf of Oman

© jpgon/AdobeStock

India's navy has deployed two ships in the Gulf of Oman to ensure safe passage for Indian-flagged vessels, the country's defense ministry said late on Thursday, a week after two oil tankers were attacked in the region.The United States has blamed Iran for the attacks on a Norwegian-owned and a Japanese-owned tanker, raising concerns about further U.S.-Iranian confrontation. Tehran has denied the allegation.Indian naval ships named Chennai and Sunayna have been "deployed in the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf to undertake maritime security operations…

02 Aug 2017

India Seizes Merchant Ship Carrying 1,500 kg of Heroin

India's navy seized a ship carrying about 1,500 kg of heroin worth 35 billion rupees ($545 million) on Sunday in what it said was its biggest ever drugs haul.   The vessel, which was operating under the name MV Henry under the Panama flag, was intercepted off the Gujarat coast near the city of Porbandar, said S. Paramesh, deputy director general at the Indian Coast Guard.   It was sailing from Dubai to Alang, a town in Gujarat known for shipbreaking, Paramesh said.   The eight crew members aboard, all of whom were identified as Indian nationals, are under investigation.   ($1 = 64.1100 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan; Additional reporting by Sanjeev Miglani; Editing by Tom Lasseter and Robin Pomeroy)

29 May 2017

INS Shardul Reaches Colombo Port

INS Shardul, which was dispatched by Southern Naval Command of India Navy with relief material to Sri Lanka has arrived in Colombo. In the wake of recent floods in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan government has asked for flood relief assistance from India. According to ANI report, India dispatched three navy ships to help in the massive rescue and relief operations launched by the island nation's triforces. Earlier on Saturday, Indian High Commissioner to Colombo Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Sri Lankan Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake received the INS Kirch packed with relief items. Apart from the aforementioned two ships, INS Jalashwa carrying victualing, clothing, medicines and water is also expected to soon reach Sri Lanka. The relief material food, water and medicines was offloaded.

18 Apr 2015

Chinese Submarine to Pakistan: Raising Nuclear Tensions in South Asia

Pakistan, a country plagued by economic and political insecurity, to conclude the deal of eight conventional submarines during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Islamabad on Monday (April 20), reports Bloomberg. This will help Pakistan gain the ability to fire nuclear weapons at sea, keeping pace with rival India, says analysts. Given the political instability and the activities of numerous terrorist groups operating in Pakistan, this poses great threat for whole world too. The submarine sale will add to tensions in regional waters as PM Narendra Modi bulks up India's navy to prevent China from gaining a foothold in the area. Nuclear weapons at sea pose a greater risk than stationary land-based arsenals because they are submerged and harder to detect.

07 Apr 2015

India's First Indigenously Built Attack First Scorpene Submarine Launched Into Water

Indian Navy's first Scorpene class stealth submarine, Kalvari, on Monday was undocked at the Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL) in Mumbai. The diesel-electric vessel INS Kalvari was built by Mazagon Dock Limited in collaboration with France’s DCNS, and it will now undergo sea trials before being formally handed over to the Navy in September next year. The launch of the submarine was witnessed by Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, amongst others. After the launch of the Kalvari, Parrikar called for the staff and workers present at the docks to help make the Indian Navy a true 'Blue water Navy', and urged the defence public sector yards to double their production in the coming three years.

18 Feb 2015

India's $8 Billion Warships Project on Track

India's government has cleared a $8 billion plan to build the country's most advanced warships, defence sources said, just months after ordering new submarines to close the gap with the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean. Since taking over last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has signalled his resolve to build a strong military after years of neglect that military planners say has left India unable to fight a two-front war against China and Pakistan. India's navy has been rattled in recent months after Chinese submarines docked in Sri Lanka, just off its southern coast, underlining the growing reach of the Chinese navy after years of staying closer to its shores.

16 Aug 2013

Divers Try in Vain to Enter Stricken Indian Submarine

INS Sindhurakshak: Photo credit CCL Brian Burnell

Indian Navy personnel tried all through Thursday, in vain, to enter 'INS Sindhurakshak', the submarine which sank with 18 crew in three metres of water at the Colaba naval dock after a series of blasts nearly 48 hours ago, reports 'The Times of India'. A large amount of muddy seawater had entered the diesel-powered Kilo class submarine, hampering visibility, and the heat of the explosion had melted parts of the 16-year-old vessel's internal hull, deforming its hatches and preventing access to compartments reports 'The Times of India' citing India Navy sources.

13 Aug 2013

India's First 'Home Grown' Aircraft Carrier Launched

India has launched its first home-built aircraft carrier from Cochin Shipyard in southern Kerala state. The 37,500 tonne INS Vikrant is expected to go for extensive trials in 2016 before being inducted into the navy by 2018, reports the BBC. With this launch, India joins a select group of countries capable of building such a vessel. The launch of INS Vikrant marks the end of the first phase of its construction. The ship will be then re-docked for outfitting and further construction. The new aircraft carrier has a length of 260m (850ft) and a breadth of 60m, having been designed and constructed locally using high grade steel made by a state-owned steel company.

07 Mar 2012

Aircraft Carrier to Join India Navy

Kiev-class Aircraft Carrier: Photo credit Wikipedia CCL

Refubished Kiev-class aircraft carrier, formerly 'Admiral Gorshkov' for sea trials in the Barents Sea. Repaired and converted at the Russian Sevmash shipyard, the 45,000 ton flat-top is expected to undergo testing in the Barents Sea shortly, before hand-over to the Indian Navy.  In addition, the ship will undertake a 3,5 month test expedition before acceptance.

06 Feb 2007

India Intends To Become Significant Maritime Player

India’s defense minister declared the country’s intention to be able to project maritime force throughout the Indian Ocean, underscoring the shift toward a littoral-warfare capability. About 40 percent of the world’s sea traffic passes through the Malacca Strait between Malaysia and Indonesia, including ships carrying oil from the Persian Gulf. Indian military strategists are concentrating on protecting the approaches to these sea lanes, which is the basis for India’s drive to become a major regional power in military terms as well. This means that India is becoming a significant maritime player for two reasons — its geostrategic location and disposition astride the key Indian Ocean sea-lines, and its potent naval power.

01 Nov 2006

India Aims for Blue-Water Navy

A truly blue-water Navy with strategic reach to operate from Africa's eastern coast right up to Malacca Straits. A satellite networked-force with maritime surveillance capabilities to keep tabs on the entire Indian Ocean Region (IOR). That, in short, is the mantra of Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who took over as the India's Navy chief from Admiral Arun Prakash. It's certainly required with maritime security now becoming inextricably entwined with overall strategic policy, with the fact that both China and Pakistan are taking rapid strides towards boosting their naval capabilities. India is dependent on sea-borne trade, with 90 percent of its total trade by volume being transported through waterways. It also has to keep track of its vast Economic Exclusive Zone.