Following a maritime incident in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata successfully rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, from the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier MV True Confidence. Three people were reportedly killed and several injured when a missile fired by Houthi militants in Yemen struck the vessel.
On Wednesday, the incident took place some 101 kilometers, or 55 nautical miles, southwest of Aden, the port city of Yemen. As the INS Kolkata, which is stationed for maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, raced to the situation, the crew, realizing they were in imminent danger, took refuge in a life raft.
#IndianNavy's swift response to Maritime Incident in #GulfofAden.
Barbados Flagged Bulk Carrier MV #TrueConfidence reported on fire after a drone/missile hit on #06Mar, approx 54 nm South West of Aden, resulting in critical injuries to crew, forcing them to abandon ship.… pic.twitter.com/FZQRBeGcKp
— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) March 7, 2024
Commander Vivek Madhwal, a Navy spokesperson, provided details of the operation, stating that the INS Kolkata arrived at 4:45 pm and swiftly executed the rescue using its integral helicopter and boats. The crew, including the critically injured, received essential medical aid from the ship’s medical team.
The injured troops and all 21 crew members were airlifted to Djibouti on the same day after the successful rescue.
The event occurs as international alarm over attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, especially by militants from the Houthi group, is intensifying.
In the wake of such attacks, the Indian Navy has been actively involved in providing support to multiple commerce boats in the Western Indian Ocean during the last few weeks.
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