• Source:ANI
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The Indian Navy's guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam came to the rescue of a cargo vessel under attack by drones in the Gulf of Aden. After receiving a distress call, INS Visakhapatnam intercepted the vessel to provide assistance. The distress call from MV  Genco Picardy was issued late on Wednesday night, as reported by news agency ANI. 

"INS Visakhapatnam, undertaking anti piracy patrol in Gulf of Aden, acknowledged the distress call and intercepted the vessels at 0030 hrs on 18 Jan 24 in order to provide assistance.  MV  Genco Picardy with 22 crew (09 Indian) reported nil casualties and fire under control," Indian Navy said in a statement. 

INS Visakhapatnam has been reportedly deployed by the Indian Navy for anti-piracy operations. The MV Genco Picardy merchant vessel was reportedly carrying 22 crew, including nine Indians. 

According to news agency ANI,  the Navy's EOD specialists from INS Visakhapatnam boarded the ship to examine the damaged area in the early hours of January 18. The incident comes amid growing concerns of Houthi militants increasing their attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Earlier, a Liberian-flagged merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto, which had 21 Indian crew members on board, was struck by a drone about 217 nautical miles from Porbandar on December 23.  However, it was later escorted by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram to the Mumbai coast.

Also, a Gabon-flagged commercial crude oil tanker carrying 25 Indian crew members reportedly came under attack in the northern Red Sea. The ship, carrying crude oil, was targeted close to the Indian coast while it was heading towards Mangaluru from a Saudi Arabian port. 

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