Days after the ship was hit by a drone off India’s west coast in the Arabian Sea while en route to New Mangalore port, India’s Nada Explosive Ordnance Disposal team conducted a detailed inspection of the merchant ship MV Chem Pluto on Monday. arrival at Mumbai port.
The Navy has deployed P-8I long-range surveillance and patrol aircraft and warships INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata to maintain a deterrent presence in the region, officials said. This happened as a result of a series of attacks on merchant vessels in the Arabian Sea.
Saturday’s drone strike on the Liberian-flagged MV Chem Pluto came amid growing concerns about various commercial vessels reportedly being targeted by Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The Liberian-flagged ship with 21 Indians and one Vietnamese crew docked at the outer anchorage off Mumbai at 3:30 pm, PTI reported.
“Following her arrival, the Indian Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team took command of the ship to conduct an initial assessment of the nature and nature of the attack,” a navy spokesman said. Analysis of the strike area and debris found on the plane indicate a drone attack.
“However, further forensic and technical analysis will be required to determine the attack vector, including the type and quantity of explosive used,” he added.
An Indian Navy spokesperson also said that after the completion of the analysis of the vessel by the explosives team, a joint investigation by various agencies has begun, as reported by PTI.
MV Chem Pluto has been approved for further operations by the responsible company in Mumbai. The ship is scheduled to undergo mandatory inspections by various inspection bodies before carrying out ship-to-ship cargo transfers. This will likely be followed by docking and repairs to the damaged part of MV Chem Pluto, he said.
A navy official also said three guided-missile destroyers were deployed in the Arabian Sea due to the number of attacks on commercial vessels in the region.
MV Chem Pluto, carrying crude oil to New Mangalore Port from Al Jubail Port in Saudi Arabia, was hit about 217 nautical miles from Porbandar on Saturday. No one was injured in the incident.
A Gabon-flagged commercial oil tanker with 25 Indian crew members also came under drone attack in the southern Red Sea on Saturday, but no one was injured, according to Indian officials and the US military.
