NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has come to the aid of yet another merchant vessel that had caught fire after being hit by a drone or a missile in the Gulf of Aden, in seventh such instance past couple of months.
Destroyer INS Kolkata, which was mission-deployed in the Gulf of Aden, responded swiftly to the distress call by Palau-flagged merchant vessel Islander after it was hit by a drone or missile on Thursday.
“Navy’s EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) specialists then boarded the vessel and sanitised it for residual risks. After a thorough inspection, they cleared the vessel for onward transit,” an officer said.
“On the vessel’s master’s request, a medical team also embarked the vessel and provided assistance to an injured crew member. Such relentless efforts by Indian warships reaffirm the Navy’s steadfast commitment towards safety and security of merchant shipping and seafarers,” he added.
India has independently deployed an unprecedented 10-12 frontline warships in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden, amid the continuing attacks by Houthi rebels of Yemen and Somali pirates that have disrupted maritime trade between Europe and Asia over the last few months, as was first reported by TOI.