The Indian Navy successfully managed to contain a fire that broke out on a commercial oil tanker, MV Marlin Luanda, in the Gulf of Aden after responding to a distress call. The vessel, with 22 Indian crew members, had been struck by a missile, reportedly fired by Iran-backed Houthi militants. The incident occurred on the key shipping route that has witnessed similar strikes in recent weeks.
Following the Mayday call, the Indian Navy deployed its guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, to assist the distressed vessel. The firefighting team from INS Visakhapatnam, comprising 10 Indian Naval personnel equipped with specialist firefighting equipment, battled the fire for six hours. Commander Vivek Madhwal, Navy spokesperson, confirmed that the team successfully brought the blaze under control. The Navy continues to monitor the situation to rule out any possibility of re-ignition.
The missile attack on MV Marlin Luanda comes amid growing global concerns over the security situation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, operated by UK-based Oceonix Services, was targeted by Houthi militants, believed to be responding to Israel's military offensive in Gaza.
In response to the distress call, INS Visakhapatnam, along with a US and French warship, provided assistance. The Indian Navy remains committed to ensuring the safety of merchant shipping and seafarers. This incident follows previous maritime security challenges, including drone attacks on cargo vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the thwarting of an attempted hijacking in the North Arabian Sea. The Navy has increased the deployment of frontline ships and surveillance aircraft to enhance maritime security operations in critical sea lanes.
(With Agency Inputs)
