Navy foils piracy bid in Gulf of Aden

NEW DLEHI: The Indian Navy foiled a piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday night after warship INS Trikand swiftly responded to a distress call from a merchant vessel carrying critical cargo for India, according to sources.The affected vessel, MV Golden Arsenal, had one Indian crew member on board when suspected pirates attempted to board the ship.According to ANI sources, the crew immediately activated anti-piracy protocols by locking themselves inside a designated safe room and alerting authorities through an emergency communication channel.INS Trikand, which was operating in the region, responded to the distress call and moved towards the merchant vessel.As the Indian Navy warship closed in on the ship, the suspected pirates fled the area before they could take control of the vessel, sources said.Following the incident, Indian Navy Marine Commandos (MARCOS) boarded MV Golden Arsenal and conducted a thorough sanitisation operation to ensure the ship was secure and free of any remaining threat.The vessel was subsequently declared safe.ANI Sources said MV Golden Arsenal was carrying critical cargo destined for India. No injuries to the crew or damage to the vessel were immediately reported.The Gulf of Aden remains one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes and has long witnessed incidents of piracy because of its proximity to the Horn of Africa. The Indian Navy has maintained a continuous presence in the region, deploying frontline warships to safeguard merchant shipping and respond to piracy threats.The latest operation adds to a series of anti-piracy missions carried out by the Indian Navy in the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past two years to protect Indian seafarers and commercial vessels transiting through the region.(With inputs from ANI)Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.