The Indian Navy successfully rescued a Liberian-flagged ship with 23 crew members on Monday after it faced an attack in the Gulf of Aden. The incident occurred approximately 90 nautical miles southeast of Aden, with the vessel reported on fire following a “drone/missile attack” on the evening of March 4, according to the Indian Navy.
INS Kolkata, a vessel on a mission for maritime security operations in the region, swiftly reached the incident site by 22:30 pm. In the early morning of March 5, a dedicated firefighting team comprising 12 personnel from INS Kolkata boarded the vessel to support firefighting efforts. A specialised explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team also joined the ship to assess residual risks. The Indian Navy escorted the vessel, carrying 23 crew members, including 13 Indians, to safe waters.
On Twiiter post, the Spokesperson of the Indian Navy said “relentless efforts by mission deployed platforms symbolises Indian Navy’s resolve in ensuring safety and security of merchant shipping and seafarers plying in the region.” The statement comes a day after Houthi militants claimed the attack on the Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container vessel in the Gulf of Aden. A military spokesperson for the Iran-aligned Houthis said that they targeted the vessel with “a number of suitable naval missiles”.
Since mid-November, the Houthis have carried out attacks on both merchant and military ships in and around the southern Red Sea. Their actions are ostensibly in support of Hamas, engaged in a conflict against Israel in Gaza. The group has explicitly stated that it will continue targeting vessels until Israel ceases its military operations. The attacks on shipping have led to extensive diversions of thousands of miles for merchant vessels. It compels them to navigate around southern Africa instead of using the Red Sea and Suez Canal, resulting in a significant surge in freight rates.
Ravi Shankar
