Indian Navy secures Gulf of Aden vessel after attack, ensuring safety of all 21 crew members
New Delhi: Indian Navy stealth frigate INS Trikand foiled a piracy attempt on a bulk carrier, MV Golden Arsenal, in the Gulf of Aden, ensuring the safety of all 21 crew members on board.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged vessel, which had one Indian national among its crew, reported the attempted attack while transiting from Aden, Yemen, about 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti. The incident was reported through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), following which INS Trikand, deployed in the region, was tasked to intercept.
Officials said the vessel sustained damage to its bridge superstructure and adjoining compartments during the incident. The crew had taken shelter in the citadel and were reported safe.
On Thursday morning, armed personnel from INS Trikand boarded the vessel to sanitise it and assess the situation. After a thorough search, no suspicious persons were found on board. The crew later exited the citadel and, along with Navy personnel, began assessing the damage.
An Indian Navy P-8I maritime patrol aircraft was also deployed for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance to support the operation.
With the vessel cleared and no threat detected, the anti-piracy operation was concluded. The MV Golden Arsenal has since resumed its voyage.
