Drone strike causes fire on merchant ship in Arabian Sea, Indian crew safe

A drone attack resulted in an explosion and subsequent fire aboard a merchant ship traversing the Arabian Sea, creating a distressing situation over 200 nautical miles southwest of Gujarat's Veraval. The targeted vessel, MV Chem Pluto, en route from a Saudi Arabian port to Mangaluru, reported the incident, alarming authorities. Despite the harrowing event, reports confirm the safety of all 20 Indian crew members, a comforting assurance amid the upheaval.

ANI, a prominent news agency, confirmed the sequence of events, highlighting the rapid response initiated by Indian maritime forces. Promptly, the Indian Coast Guard and the Navy mobilized vessels toward the affected merchant ship.

The Coast Guard deployed the ICGS Vikram, previously patrolling the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone, redirecting its course to assist MV Chem Pluto. Simultaneously, a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft established crucial communication with the distressed vessel, maintaining a critical link during the turmoil.


Post-attack, MV Chem Pluto resumed movement at a pace of 11 nautical miles, anticipated to rendezvous with the ICGS Vikram around 10 pm. The combined efforts aim to navigate the vessel to Mumbai by early Monday. However, the vessel deactivated its Automatic Identification System following the attack, a measure potentially enacted for security reasons, impeding its tracking.

This incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating maritime tensions, resonating with recent events in the region. Notably, the Indian Navy's involvement in the evacuation of an injured sailor from the hijacked Malta-flagged cargo vessel, MV Ruen, spotlighted the growing maritime security concerns in the Arabian Sea.

Beyond this singular incident, the region confronts broader challenges. Recent drone and missile strikes by Yemen's Huthi rebels in the Red Sea targeting critical shipping lanes have heightened global apprehensions. While the responsible entity for this attack remains unclaimed, such occurrences prompt global shipping route alterations and heightened security measures.

(With inputs from Agencies)