After successfully forcing surrender of nine armed pirates, Indian Navy’s specialist teams have completed sanitisation and seaworthiness checks of Iranian fishing vessel FV Al-Kambar, navy said here on Saturday. 

Giving details, officials said the crew comprising 23 Pakistani nationals was given a thorough medical checkup prior to clearing the boat to continue with its fishing activities. The nine pirates are being brought to India for further legal action in accordance with the Maritime Anti-Piracy Act of 2022.

The Navy had on Friday responded to the piracy attack and its two warships intercepted FV Al-Kambar during early hours about 90 nautical miles southwest of Socorta. After more than 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures as per the standard operating procedure(SOP), the pirates on board hijacked fishing vessel were forced to surrender. Socotra Archipelago is in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden.

The Indian Navy said it remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and safety of seafarers, "irrespective of the nationalities".

 The Indian Navy will take "affirmative action" to ensure a safer and more secure Indian Ocean Region, its chief Admiral R Hari Kumar had said on March 23 while citing the anti-piracy and other maritime security operations undertaken by the naval force in the preceding 100 days under 'Operation Sankalp'.

As part of maritime security operations, the Navy has undertaken anti-piracy, anti-missiles and anti-drones operations; 110 lives -- 45 Indians and 65 foreign nationals -- have been saved during 'Op Sankalp' in that 100-day period, according to a PPT presentation that was given by a Navy officer before the press conference of the Navy chief in March 23.

It was also mentioned in the presentation that from November last year till March, "more than 90 maritime incidents have happened", including 57 drone or missile attacks or sightings; and 39 incidents that include piracy, hijacking, or suspicious approaches.