An Indian naval destroyer helped a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker with 30 crew members including 22 Indians after the vessel came under a missile attack from Houthi militants, the country’s Navy said on Sunday.
INS Kochi responded following the attack on the vessel, MV Andromeda Star, on April 26, officials said, adding all the crew members are safe. This incident comes as the Indian Navy extended assistance to several merchant vessels, in the recent past, in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them.
A Mission deployed Indian Naval Destroyer #INSKochi responded to a #maritimesecurity incident involving attack on Panama flagged crude oil tanker MV Andromeda Star PM 26 Apr 24.The MV was intercepted by #IndianNavy warship & an aerial recce by helo was undertaken to assess the… pic.twitter.com/nh5qfVOQMy— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) April 28, 2024
US Central Command
The US Central Command said Iranian-backed Houthi militants launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of merchant vessel Maisha and MV Andromeda Star. MV Andromeda Star is a Panaman-flagged and Seychelles-operated vessel. The vessel reported minor damage, the US Central Command said.
“A mission deployed Indian Naval destroyer INS Kochi responded to a maritime security incident involving the attack on Panama-flagged crude oil tanker MV Andromeda Star on April 26,” the Indian Navy said. The vessel was intercepted by the Indian Navy ship and an aerial recce involving a helicopter operation was undertaken to assess the situation, it said.
April 26 CENTCOM Red Sea UpdateAt 5:49 p.m. (Sanna time) on April 26, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of MV MAISHA, an Antiqua/Barbados flagged, Liberia… pic.twitter.com/eCwPHkL9XP
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 27, 2024
An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team of the Navy was also deployed to carry out ”residual risk assessment”, the Navy said in a statement. “A total of 30 crew including 22 Indian nationals are reported to be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port,” it said.
“The swift action of the Indian Navy ship reiterates the commitment and resolve of the Indian Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region,” it added. The fresh incident comes amid growing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants.
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