Indian Navy Prevents Pirates’ Hijacking Attempt On Bulk Carrier In Gulf Of Aden

The Indian Navy has foiled an attempted pirate attack on the merchant ship MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden, deploying warship INS Trikand and a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to secure the vessel and ensure the safety of its crew before it resumed its voyage.

The incident took place on July 1, when the St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged bulk carrier reported an attempted pirate attack while sailing from Aden, Yemen, about 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti.

The alert was received through the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), following which INS Trikand, already deployed in the Gulf of Aden, was sent to assist the vessel.

According to the Indian Navy, the ship had 21 crew members on board, including one Indian national. During the incident, the vessel suffered damage to its bridge superstructure and nearby compartments.

The crew followed anti-piracy procedures by taking shelter inside the ship’s citadel, a secure room used during piracy attacks, where they remained safe until naval assistance arrived.

INS Trikand reached the vessel early on July 2. A specialist boarding team searched the ship and confirmed that no suspicious persons were on board.

The Navy then helped the crew leave the citadel, assessed the damage and assisted in preparing the vessel to continue its voyage.

The Indian Navy also deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to carry out aerial surveillance and reconnaissance over the area to support the operation.

After the vessel was declared safe, MV Golden Arsenal resumed its onward voyage.

According to sources cited by ANI, the vessel was carrying critical cargo for India when suspected pirates tried to board it. The crew alerted authorities after taking shelter in the citadel, and the suspected pirates fled as INS Trikand approached.

The operation is the latest in a series of anti-piracy missions carried out by the Indian Navy in the region.

On June 19, INS Trikand responded to a distress call from MV Fareeda 5 after a likely piracy attempt in the Western Indian Ocean. The Navy said its quick response ensured the vessel’s safety.

Earlier, on May 27, INS Kolkata responded to reports of suspected pirate activity near MV Mashallah 1 in the Western Indian Ocean. The warship used its helicopter and boarding teams to investigate the situation and prevent a possible piracy attack.

The Indian Navy said it remains committed to protecting merchant ships, countering piracy and ensuring the safety of seafarers of all nationalities as part of its ongoing maritime security operations in the Indian Ocean Region.

References: India Today, Cnbctv18