• By Kamal Kumar
  • Tue, 05 Mar 2024 11:50 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Indian Navy on Tuesday rescued a Liberian-flagged merchant ship MSC Sky II after it was attacked by the Houthis in the Indian Ocean around 140 km southeast of Aden in Yemen. The Djibouti-bound ship which started from Singapore was on its way when a distress call was made to the Indian Navy about the attack. Soon after receiving the call for help, the Navy flung into action and warships were rushed to rescue the ship.

The cargo ship reported fire after a drone/missile attack hit one of the containers. In response, the Indian warship INS Kolkata, a powerful destroyer designed to avoid detection, rushed to the scene. This deployment is part of an effort by India, with INS Kolkata and its sister ship INS Kochi patrolling the Gulf of Aden, to keep the vital shipping lane safe from both piracy and aerial assaults.

A heroic rescue by the Navy

A dedicated firefighting unit from the Indian Navy arrived on an inflatable motorboat and boarded the MSC Sky II. The vessel, carrying 23 crew members, including 12 Indians, had caught fire following a reported drone/missile attack by Houthi rebels. The strike hit a container, resulting in a substantial blaze. INS Kolkata, shadowing the container ship, responded swiftly, and Navy personnel in firefighting gear actively engaged in dousing the flames using hose pipes.

The Navy requested support from an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to conduct a residual risk assessment. The EOD team is responsible for detecting and safely disposing of dangerous explosives.

"Indian Navy swiftly responds to a Maritime Incident in the Gulf of Aden. Liberian-flagged MV MSC Sky II transiting approximately 90 Nm South East of Aden was reported on fire due to a drone/ missile attack PM 04 Mar. INS Kolkata, mission deployed in the region for maritime security operations, promptly responded and arrived at the scene of the incident by 2230h."

A specialised firefighting team of 12 personnel from INS Kolkata embarked on the vessel early morning hours of 05 Mar to assist in firefighting efforts. Specialist EOD Team also embarked the vessel and provided assistance in residual risk assessment," the Navy wrote in a post on its official X account.

According to a report by NDTV, a Navy helicopter hovered over the ships to provide cover. All of the passengers were rescued and safely escorted to the safe waters.

Also In News