Pirate Mother Vessel Vega 5 Intercepted by INS Kalpeni

INS Kalpeni intercepted a pirate mother vessel called Vega 5 in the Arabian Sea about 600 nautical miles west of India on the night of 12 March 2011. 13 crew members were rescued and 61 pirates were nabbed. A Naval Dornier while responding to a call from MV Vancouver Bridge under pirate attack, located Vega 5 a pirate mother vessel. The mother vessel made an attempt to escape from the region after the pirates gave up their piracy attempt upon viewing the naval aircraft.

Whilst IN Maritime Patrol Aircraft continuously tracked the pirate mother vessel Vega 5, Indian Naval Ships Khukri ( a missile corvette) and Kalpeni (a Water Jet Fast Attack Craft) deployed for anti piracy patrol were diverted to intercept and investigate Vega5.

The pirate mother vessel launched two skiffs which fired at Kalpeni following which INS Kalpeni responded with limited firing. Thereafter it was observed that a fire had broken out on Vega 5 (mother vessels are known to carry additional fuel drums to fuel the skiffs). INS Kalpeni in conunction with INS Khukri recovered 74 personnel comprising 61 pirates and 13 members of the original crew of the fishing vessel. Preliminary investigations then revealed that the pirates were carrying about 80 to 90 small arms/rifles and a few heavier weapons.

Vega 5, a Mozambique flagged fishing vessel was hijacked on 28 Dec 2010 and has thereafter been used as mother vessel for piracy operations. This vessel which has carried out several attacks had been a risk to international shipping for last four months.

South Eastern Arabian sea is a focal point of international traffic and the security of these sea lanes in the Arabian Sea is critical to the flow of global trade. Anti-piracy patrols were made operational in the Gulf of Aden since Oct 2008. In view of the dangers from vessels such as Vega 5, the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have been maintaining vigil West of the Lakshadweep Islands in the last four months. As a result piracy incidents in this area reduced by 60% since December 2010.

The Indian Navy has already apprehended two pirate mother ships on 28 January and 5 Feb 11 in the Arabian Sea. A total of 43 pirates had been apprehended in these incidents.