Indian crew, ship survive pirates' attack

MUMBAI: The Indian crew and MT Abdul Kalam Azad vessel, which came under attack by Somali pirates at the Gulf of Aden, is reported to be safe after FSUI foiled their attempt to hijack the ship.

On receipt of a distress call by an Indian naval vessel and a French vessel near Gulf of Aden, helicopters were sent to chase away the pirates, Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI), which is a union for sailors, said in a statement.

Both the helicopters were successful in chasing the pirates away, it said.

The ship, MT Abdul Kalam Azad, owned by Shipping Corporation of India was sailing towards Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The pirates came on speed boats and started firing indiscriminately on the ship and the crew, FSUI said.

Under instruction from the Master of the ship, the crew escaped unhurt by lying flat on the deck of the ship when the pirates were firing, it said.

Many ships sailing through Gulf of Aden have come under attack from Somali sea pirates in the last year. To counter the pirates, Indian navy has deployed its vessel in the Gulf of Aden.