New Delhi: Indian Navy today came to the rescue of a cargo vessel under attack by drones in the Gulf Aden. After receiving a distress call, India deployed the warship INS Visakhapatnam, which intercepted the vessel and will provide assistance.
"INS Visakhapatnam, undertaking anti piracy patrol in Gulf of Aden, acknowledged the distress call and intercepted the vessels at 0030 hrs on 18 Jan 24 in order to provide assistance. MV Genco Picardy with 22 crew (09 Indian) reported nil casualties and fire under control," Navy said in a statement.
After intercepting the vessel, MV Genco Picardy, bomb experts boarded the ship to inspect the damaged area. "Specialists, after a thorough inspection have rendered the area safe for further transit. The vessel is proceeding to the next port of call," Navy said.
The incident comes amid growing concerns over Houthi militants stepping up attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar issued instructions to firmly deal with such maritime incidents.
Liberian-flagged vessel MV Chem Pluto, with 21 Indian crew members, was the target of a drone attack off India's west coast on December 23.
Besides MV Chem Pluto, another commercial oil tanker that was on the way to India came under a suspected drone strike in the Southern Red Sea on the same day. The vessel had a team of 25 Indian crew.
In another incident, Malta-flagged vessel MV Ruen was hijacked on December 14 by pirates.