The Indian Navy has rescued the crew of a merchant vessel that was attempted to be hijacked while sailing in North Arabian Sea, New Delhi announced.

“The 21 crew members – including 15 Indians – were safely evacuated,” the Navy said in its statement, adding that the attackers abandoned their attempt to seize the ship after being “sternly warned” by them.

An Indian warship spotted the MV Lila Norfolk, a Liberian-flagged bulk cargo ship that had raised an alert on Thursday, saying it had been attacked by pirates about 460 nautical miles off Somalia. Around five or six gunmen boarded the ship yesterday, according to a report by the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center (UKMTO).

The Indian Navy, after rescuing the sailors, said it did not find any pirates on board. He will now help to restore the power system so that the MV Lila Norfolk can continue its journey.

The cargo ship was heading to Bahrain’s Khalifa bin Salman port, according to reports with the British marine insurance company Ambrey. It is not yet clear what cargo he was carrying.

The seizure of ships and attempted piracy of merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea resumed in December after a six-year hiatus. Experts believe the pirates are taking advantage of the fact that US forces deployed in the region to combat piracy have turned their attention to attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on merchant ships in the Red Sea.