"INS Chennai Responds to Armed Hijacking of Liberian Vessel with Indians Aboard in Indian Ocean"

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported an incident of armed persons boarding a commercial ship in the Indian Ocean, near Somalia. The crew has retreated to a safe room on board, reminiscent of tactics used by Somali pirates in the past. This follows a series of hijackings in the region, including the MV Ruen in December, marking a potential resurgence of Somali piracy, which had not seen a successful commercial ship hijacking since 2017. The situation raises alarm amidst a backdrop of increased maritime attacks in the Red Sea by the Houthis.