New Delhi: Indian Navy stealth frigate INS Trikand thwarted a piracy attempt on a foreign-flagged merchant vessel, carrying 21 crew members including one Indian national, in the Gulf of Aden, officials said on Thursday.
The piracy incident was reported in coordination with the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) based in Gurugram, a spokesperson of the India Navy said.
MV Golden Arsenal, a St Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged bulk carrier, reported an attempted pirate attack approximately 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti on July 1, the official said.
Indian Naval Ship Trikand, a mission-deployed stealth frigate of the Indian Navy operating in the Gulf of Aden, responded swiftly to the piracy attempt on the vessel.
“The merchant vessel, carrying 21 crew members, including one Indian national, reported damage to the bridge superstructure and adjoining compartments. The crew had taken shelter in the vessel’s citadel and were reported safe,” the spokesperson said. On Thursday morning, a boarding team from INS Trikand embarked MV Golden Arsenal to sanitise the vessel and assess the situation.
“Following a thorough search, no suspicious personnel were found onboard. The crew subsequently exited the citadel safely and, along with Indian Navy personnel, commenced an assessment of the vessel’s condition,” the official said.
To augment the operation, a P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft of the Indian Navy was deployed to undertake aerial surveillance and reconnaissance in the area, enhancing maritime domain awareness and supporting the anti-piracy response, the spokesperson said.
“With the vessel sanitised and the immediate threat neutralised, anti-piracy operations by INS Trikand have concluded. And, MV Golden Arsenal has since resumed her onward voyage,” the official said. The Indian Navy remains committed to safeguarding merchant shipping, countering piracy and ensuring the safety and security of all seafarers in the Indian Ocean Region, irrespective of nationality, as part of its continued commitment to maritime security in the region.
