New Delhi, July 2: The Indian Navy successfully responded to a piracy attempt on MV Golden Arsenal, a St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged bulk carrier, in the Gulf of Aden, ensuring the safety of its crew and enabling the vessel to resume its voyage.
According to an official statement, INS Trikand, a mission-deployed stealth frigate operating in the Gulf of Aden, responded swiftly after the merchant vessel reported an attempted pirate attack on July 1, approximately 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti while sailing from Aden, Yemen.
The incident was reported through the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region, following which INS Trikand was directed to intercept the vessel.
The bulk carrier, carrying 21 crew members, including one Indian national, reported damage to its bridge superstructure and adjoining compartments during the attack. The crew took shelter in the vessel’s citadel and remained safe throughout the incident.
On the morning of July 2, a boarding team from INS Trikand boarded MV Golden Arsenal to sanitise the vessel and assess the situation. Following a comprehensive search, no suspicious personnel were found on board. The crew subsequently emerged safely from the citadel and, along with Indian Navy personnel, began assessing the damage sustained by the vessel.
To strengthen the operation, the Indian Navy also deployed a P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft to conduct aerial surveillance and reconnaissance in the area, enhancing maritime domain awareness and supporting the anti-piracy mission.
After the vessel was declared secure and the immediate threat neutralised, INS Trikand concluded its anti-piracy operation, and MV Golden Arsenal resumed its onward voyage.
The Indian Navy reaffirmed its commitment to protecting merchant shipping, combating piracy and ensuring the safety of seafarers of all nationalities as part of its ongoing efforts to maintain maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
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