In the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy saves 21 crew members from a commerce ship struck by a missile
Twenty-one crew members, including one Indian national, were saved by the Indian Navy from a commerce vessel that was struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden.
The bulk carrier MV True Confidence, a commercial ship flying the flag of Barbados, was struck by a drone/missile on Wednesday, around 90 kilometers to the southwest of Aden. The impact caused a fire within the ship and seriously injured many crew members, causing them to evacuate the vessel.
Arriving at the area at 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday, the Indian Navy cruiser INS Kolkata—deployed for maritime security operations—rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national. The helicopter that had been launched from the deck of the INS Kolkatta was used to deliver a life raft. The ship’s medical staff gave the wounded crew vital medical attention.
Late on Wednesday, the rescued crew—including the seriously wounded personnel—was flown to Djibouti, which is located on the eastern coast of Africa.
A commercial vessel flying the flag of Liberia and its twenty-three crew members—13 of whom were Indian citizens—were rescued early on Tuesday by the Indian Navy from an assault in the Gulf of Aden.
Additionally, the INS Kolkata was sent on the same operation.
The ship was escorted from the location of the incident on a westerly route to the territorial waters of Djibouti at the merchant ship’s request.
Twelve members of the Indian Navy’s specialized firefighting crew boarded the merchant ship in the early hours of March 5 and helped put out the remaining flames. A crew from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) also boarded the MV to examine the danger.
The 23-person crew, including 13 Indian nationals, are safe, and the ship is sailing to its next location, according to the Navy.
The Indian Navy has stationed more than a dozen assets in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden since December of last year. The deployment is not a component of the regional alliance headed by the US.
