Indian Naval Ship Trikand has successfully responded to a piracy attempt on merchant vessel MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, while transiting from Aden in Yemen, reported an attempted pirate attack around 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti. The incident was reported through the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region, following which INS Trikand, deployed in the region, was tasked to intercept the merchant vessel.
The vessel, carrying 21 crew members, including one Indian national, sustained damage to the bridge superstructure and adjoining compartments. The crew took shelter in the vessel’s citadel and were reported safe. To augment the operation, the Indian Navy deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance, enhancing maritime domain awareness and supporting the anti-piracy response. The Ministry said that with the vessel sanitised and the immediate threat neutralised, the anti-piracy operation by INS Trikand has concluded. MV Golden Arsenal has resumed its onward voyage.
The Indian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding merchant shipping, countering piracy and ensuring the safety and security of all seafarers in the region, irrespective of nationality, as part of its continued commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
