The India-bound merchant vessel, 'which came under attack by a drone', is being escorted back to native shores by Coast Guard ship Vikram in the Arabian Sea, officials said on Sunday.
Following a drone attack on two vessels in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed Houthi militants, which included MV SAIBABA, a crude oil tanker; the Indian Navy on Sunday said all 25 Indian crew members on board are safe, clarifying that it wasn't an India-flagged vessel, as claimed by the US e
Indian Navy warship INS Mormugao reached MV Chem Pluto, the India-bound merchant vessel, which was 'attacked' by an Iranian drone, on Saturday night and ascertained details of the attack, officials informed on Sunday.
Two warships, including an India-flagged, Gabon-owned tanker, came under Houthi fire in the Red Sea, according to official statements from the US Central Command.
The official statement said that on December 23, the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai received information regarding a fire onboard MV Chem Pluto, reportedly attacked by a suspected drone strike or aerial platform.
The merchant ship MV Chem Pluto which was attacked by a drone on Saturday has started moving at a speed of around 11 nautical miles per hour and will be joined by Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Vikram at around 10 p.m., Indian Coast Guard officials said.
The Indian Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft established communication with the distressed vessel MV Chem Pluto after it was hit by a drone on Saturday.
The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard vessels are moving towards a merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, in the Arabian Sea, which caught fire after a suspected drone attack.
A merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, in the Arabian Sea caught fire after a suspected drone attack at 217 nautical miles off Porbandar coast on Saturday, defence officials said.