INS Visakhapatnam Responds To Merchant Vessel's Distress Call In Gulf Of Aden After It Caught Fire On Being Hit By Missile

Indian Navy said on Saturday (27 January) that its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam responded to a distress call from Merchant Vessel Marlin Luanda on the night of 26 January in the Gulf of Aden.

The Merchant Vessel (MV) had 22 Indians and one Bangladeshi crew onboard when it was hit by a missile and caught fire. This was the second distress call that INS Viskahapatnam responded to in 10 days.

Earlier, it responded to a distress call by US-owned and Marshall Island flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack at 2311 hours on 17 January and intercepted the MV at 0030 hours on 18 January.

Marlin Luanda is a Marshall Island-flagged crude oil vessel and was headed to Singapore. The attack comes amid rising attacks by Iran-backed Houthis in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

"The firefighting efforts onboard the distressed Merchant Vessel is being augmented by the NBCD team along with firefighting equipment, deployed by INS Visakhapatnam to assist the crew onboard the MV," the navy said.

"Indian Navy remains steadfast and committed towards safeguarding MVs and ensuring the safety of life at sea," the statement further read.