Indian warships are shadowing the hijacked vessel as it reaches Somalia coast

Indian warshipshadowing the hijacked Malta flagged MV Ruen commercial vessel is into a "wait-and-watch" mode since a direct intervention could lead to loss of lives among the crew being held hostage by the armed pirates on board The hijacked vessel has since reached the Somalia coast its destination on December 17th.

Bulk carrier MV Ruen is being "constantly monitored" by Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Kochi. "The two warships are present in the area for any contingency," an officer said.

Going by past instances, owners of such hijacked commercial ships are usually compelled to negotiate with the Somali pirates and pay a ransom to get their vessels and crews back.

"Armed interventions are normally avoided in such hostage situations. Indian Navy had swung into action after MV Ruen, with 18 crew members on board, sent a mayday call on the UKMTO portal on Thursday afternoon, with the alert that it had been boarded by "around six unknown persons".

MV Ruen, is managed by a Bulgarian company Navigation Maritime Bulgare. The hijacking is the first major incident in the last five to six years after concerted anti-piracy action by several international navies in Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean Region.