Indian Navy deploys second warship in Gulf of Aden
New Delhi: Following the hijacking of a Malta-flagged cargo ship by pirates, the Indian Navy has deployed a second frontline ship in the Gulf of Aden to enhance its anti-piracy mission. The Navy now has stealth guided-missile destroyers INS Kochi and INS Kolkata in the region, officials said.
The Navy responded immediately after receiving a call for help from the Malta-flagged hijacked ship MV Rouen on 14 December. A few days later, one of the 18 crew members aboard the ship was evacuated off the coast of Somalia to provide medical care. Was injured by pirates.
India’s quick response
“In a prompt response, Indian Navy maritime patrol aircraft deployed to investigate the incident arrived over MV Rouen on December 15 and established communication with the crew,” a Navy spokesperson said.
“All 18 crew (no Indians on board) are reported safe on board. Also, in response to the incident, INS Kochi, deployed on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden, was also immediately dispatched to provide assistance,” he said.
INS Kochi intercepted MV Rouen on the morning of December 16 and launched its integral helicopter to assess the situation, the official said.
“It was learned from the crew that the defense on board the MV Rouen had been breached and all crew members had been taken hostage by pirates. A crew member has also been injured, but his condition is said to be stable.
“Although no armed intervention was conducted to ensure the safety of the crew on board the hijacked MV, necessary action was taken by the warship to ensure fair treatment of the crew by the pirates,” he said.
A Japanese warship also visited the area on December 16 and was escorted by the Spanish warship ESPNS Victoria later in the day, a navy spokesman said.
“During its transit towards Somalia the Indian Naval ship remained close to the hijacked ship from 16 to 17 December, maintaining proper engagement with the pirates and coordinating actions with other warships,” the official said.
The hijacked ship entered Somalia’s territorial waters on 17 December and INS Kochi was successful in ensuring that the injured crew member was released by the pirates in the early hours of 18 December for further medical management.
“The injured crew member was given medical care onboard the Indian Naval ship, but due to the need for urgent medical care, which was beyond the scope of the ship, he was shifted ashore in Oman on December 19,” the official said. I went.”
“In light of the above incident and in line with enhancing anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden area, the Indian Navy has deployed another indigenous guided missile destroyer in the area,” he said.
“The Indian Navy is committed to ensuring the safety of merchant vessels and helping seafarers at sea as the ‘first responder’ in the region,” the official said.
US coalition against Houthis
Interestingly, the US said that more than 20 countries have agreed to participate in a US-led coalition to protect commercial shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militants.
“We have more than 20 countries signed up to participate in the coalition,” Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder told reporters, AFP reported. He said the Houthis were posing a threat to global economic prosperity and had turned into “bandits” on the Red Sea shipping line in Yemen.
Ryder said coalition forces would patrol the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden to assist commercial ships crossing international waterways and urge the Houthis to end their attacks.
