New Delhi, July 2: The Indian Navy’s stealth frigate, INS Trikand, is actively enhancing India’s maritime security in crucial regions like the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. On July 1, it swiftly responded to a piracy attempt on the merchant vessel MV Golden Arsenal, flagged from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
A merchant ship coming from Yemen reported an attack attempt by pirates approximately 300 nautical miles northeast of Djibouti. This incident was coordinated through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), which directed INS Trikand to intercept the merchant vessel.
The MV Golden Arsenal, carrying 21 crew members, including Indian nationals, sustained damage to its upper structure and surrounding compartments. The crew took refuge in the ship’s fortified area and is reported safe.
On the morning of July 2, a team from INS Trikand boarded the MV Golden Arsenal to conduct a security check and assess the situation. After a thorough search, no suspicious individuals were found on board. The crew was safely evacuated, and Indian Navy personnel began evaluating the vessel’s condition.
To bolster the operation, the Indian Navy deployed a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance in the area, enhancing maritime awareness and aiding anti-piracy responses.
With the ship declared safe and the immediate threat neutralized, the anti-piracy operation conducted by INS Trikand concluded successfully. The MV Golden Arsenal has resumed its onward journey.
The Indian Navy remains committed to maritime security in the Indian Ocean region, ensuring the safety of commercial vessels and combating piracy, regardless of nationality, to protect all mariners in the area.
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