The Indian Navy has dispatched an aircraft and a warship to assist a merchant ship that was hit by a drone strike off the coast of India Saturday.
As per an official, the aircraft arrived overhead the ship and ascertained the safety of the ship and its crew of around 23 including 21 Indians. The ship dispatched is on its way to the merchant ship.
“The Navy responded after the shipping company sent in a request seeking assistance from the Indian Navy,” an official said.
The Navy’s Gurugram-based Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) is coordinating the communication between the Navy and the firm.
While there were no casualties, some damages were reported, though officials refused to divulge further details on the incident.
According to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the attack led to an explosion and fire onboard the ship.
News Agency AFP quoted maritime security firm Ambrey stating the Liberia-flagged chemical/products tanker was Israel-affiliated and was on its way to India from Saudi Arabia when the strike took place 200 nautical miles southwest of Veraval. There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack so far.
The incident came amid a series of UAV and missile attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on commercial ships in the Red Sea since October when the Israel-Hamas war began.
This has led to many shipping companies rerouting their cargo vessels through longer routes leading to higher fuel costs.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First published on: 23-12-2023 at 3:28 IST
