Indian Coast Guard Expands Operations In Arabian Sea After Drone Attack On Merchant Vessel

The Indian Coast Guard expanded its operations in the Arabian Sea after a drone attack hit a merchant vessel near Gujarat coast.

Indian Coast Guards expands operations in Arabian Sea following drone attack on merchant vessel/Representational Image

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The Indian Coast Guard has expanded its operations in the Arabian Sea after a drone attack on a merchant vessel last week in the wake of Israel Hamas war in Gaza. The ICG has expanded its operations along the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with an increased number of offshore patrol vessels and increasing the Dornier aircraft sorties over the area by 50 per cent, reported ANI. 

The Israeli-affiliated merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, was en route to India when it was attacked by a suspected drone off the west coast of India, approximately, 200 kilometres southwest of Gujarat's Veraval. 

"We have increased the presence of our Offshore Patrol Vessels as four of them equipped with ALH Dhruv helicopters are sweeping our EEZ to check any suspicious activity against Indian or any other nationality merchant ship," Indian Coast Guard officials told the news agency.

The attack on MV Chem Pluto marked the first known attack of this nature taking place away from the Red Sea — where Houthis have said they will attack any ship heading towards Israel — since the beginning of Gaza war.

The vessel was carrying 20 Indians and one Vietnamese crew member and had departed from the United Arab Emirates on December 19 for New Mangalore port. 

Following the attack, the Indian Navy on Monday said it has deployed three guided missiles — INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata — across the Arabian Sea. 

“Considering the recent spate of attacks in the Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers, INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata (Guided Missile Destroyers) in various areas to maintain a deterrent presence. Long-range maritime reconnaissance P8I aircraft are being regularly tasked to maintain domain awareness,” the Navy said.