New Delhi, Mar 23 (UNI) Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday that the Indian Navy is committed to ensuring maritime security, especially in the Indian Ocean Region, has rescued 110 lives from piracy in various operations under ‘Operation Sankalp’ in the last 100 days, and has also played an important role in safely delivering more than 15 lakh metric tons of goods to their destination by sea.
Addressing a press conference here on the occasion of the completion of 100 days of 'Operation Sankalp', Admiral Hari Kumar said, "Keeping maritime security safe is our prime responsibility, and what the Navy is doing is taking every possible step to ensure security".
He said that 35 warships and five reconnaissance aircraft and helicopters of the Navy are keeping an eye on the activities taking place in the sea, from the Indian Ocean to the Gulf of Aden, its surrounding areas, the Arabian Sea, and the eastern coast of Somalia. Apart from this, 11 submarines of the Indian Navy also remain on mission.
He added that more than five thousand marines have played a role in these operations.
He said that although the Navy's Operation Sankalp has been carried out since 2019, due to the conflict between Israel and Hamas last year, incidents of piracy, hijacking of ships, and missile and drone attacks have increased.
He said that in view of this, the Navy, as a commitment to the security of the sea, has been facing this challenge boldly by increasing the scope and power of Operation Sankalp on December 14.
He said, “Today, March 23, 100 days of this operation have been completed. Its basic objective is to make the Indian Ocean completely safe, and it is our responsibility because this area is linked to the name of our country, and it is our moral responsibility to keep it safe.”
He said that during this period, the Navy responded to 18 incidents and played an important role as a ‘First Responder’ and ‘Preferred Security Partner’ in the Indian Ocean Region.
He said that the Navy has carried out the biggest operation by taking action in the hijacking of MV Ruen. The Navy has also provided security to 450 merchant ships.
The Navy Chief said that an important objective of this operation is to provide safe sea passage for the goods imported and exported to India. Fertilizer, crude oil, and other essential commodities are mainly transported by sea.
In response to a question, the Admiral said that more than 50 ships from different countries and agencies are deployed all the time in different areas for the security of merchant ships, but India is the first to take action and try to help and in this matter, it has a distinct identity.
He said that the help of the Indian Air Force is also being taken from time to time in this operation as per the need. During the operation, sailors aboard more than 21 warships of the Navy have spent more than 450 days at sea and have been deployed for surveillance by aircraft and 900 hours of flying time.
The Navy has saved the lives of over 110 people, including 45 Indians, in various operations, he said.
Admiral Kumar said that the Navy's measured response, ingenuity, and determination during Operation Sankalp has been praised internationally.
UNI RBE ARN GNK