In response to the missile attack incident that took place in the Arabian Sea on Saturday (December 23) on the MT Chem Pluto, the Indian Navy diverted a maritime patrol aircraft operating in the area while conducting routine surveillance.
It also diverted the Indian Navy ship Mormugao to assess the situation and provide assistance to MT Chem Pluto.
“A naval patrol aircraft flew over MT Chem Pluto at 1315 hrs on 23-Dec-23 and made contact with the crew. Crew members reported that all 22 passengers were safe and the fire was extinguished. The Navy also communicated details of the situation to all Indian maritime agencies for rendering necessary assistance,” the Indian Navy said in a statement.
“Indian Naval ship Mormugao communicated with MT Chem Pluto on 23 December 1930 to ascertain if any assistance was required. CGS Vikram, also present at the scene, was ordered to escort the vessel to Bombay. Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist will board MV Chem Pluto on arrival in Mumbai to disinfect the vessel and conduct further investigations,” the statement further said.
The Indian Navy further said it will continue to monitor the situation very closely, adding that it remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping in the region.
A missile hit a merchant ship off the Indian coast
A missile attack damaged the MV Chem Pluto off the Indian coast on Saturday (December 23) morning, which was carrying oil and bound for Mangalore from a port in Saudi Arabia.
This comes amid heightened tensions in the Red Sea, particularly as a result of continued drone and missile attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on a key shipping lane.
No casualties were reported in the incident, which took place on Saturday (December 23). However, there was a short fire on board the tanker, which was successfully extinguished.
The incident involving the MV Chem Pluto is significant because it led to the first time the Pentagon openly accused Tehran of wrongdoing by directly targeting the ships.
Notably, this incident follows a similar suspected drone attack on an Israeli cargo ship in the Indian Ocean last month. Attacks in the Red Sea during the war between Israel and Hamas led major shipping firms to divert vessels around the southern tip of Africa due to heightened security concerns.
Amid the developing situation, an official from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of the possible forced “closure of additional waterways” if Israel fails to halt its ongoing war with the Hamas militant group.
