Drone strike hits ship off India’s coast, ICGS Vikram deployed to investigate
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the strike which came amid a flurry of drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Huthi rebels on a vital shipping lane in the Red Sea.
This comes four days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing concern over maritime security as a result of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The attack caused a fire on board the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, or UKMTO.
Ambrey, a maritime security firm, said the “Liberia-flagged chemical/products tanker… was Israel-affiliated” and had been on its way from Saudi Arabia to India.
Both agencies said the attack occurred 200 nautical miles southwest of Veraval, India.
The incident was first reported by United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO).
“UKMTO has received a report of an attack by an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) on a vessel causing an explosion and fire. The fire was extinguished and no casualties were reported. Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity,” UKMTO said in a statement.
Around 21 Indian crew members are believed to have been on board this commercial ship, MV Chem Pluto, fortunately, there were no casualties. The ship had set sail from Saudi Arabia (carrying crude) and was heading towards Mangalore and sailed under the flag of Liberia.
Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS Vikram) and a naval aircraft carrier (P-8I maritime surveillance) were dispatched to assist in the aftermath of the drone incident. The safety of the crew and ship was ascertained.
It is learnt that the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) came into action when the incident was reported and coordinated in swift response. IFC-IOR has said that there has been an increase in maritime security threats since the past week
“This appears to be a spillover of the Red Sea conflict and since it is so close to India and Indian crew members narrowly escaped unhurt, it is a major cause of concern,’’ said a source.
Many merchant ships have paused their commute after the Houthi attacks. The Houthis, who rule a major part of Yemen, have pledged to continue carrying out attacks until Israel halts its assault on Gaza.
About 40 per cent of international trade passes through the narrow strait between Yemen and northeast Africa, which leads northwards to the Red Sea, Israel’s southern port facilities and the Suez Canal.
The increased threat has caused shipping insurance costs to jump by tens of thousands of dollars a day and raised oil prices.
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