Indian Navy's Warship INS Visakhapatnam Helps US-Owned Ship Under Drone Attack In Gulf Of Aden

The Indian Navy on Thursday (18 January) responded to a distress call from a US-owned ship, which came under a drone attack, in the Gulf of Aden.

In a statement, the Indian Navy said that its warship, INS Visakhapatnam, responded to the distress call by by a Marshall Island flagged ship and intercepted it to provide assistance.

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"Indian Navy's Guided Missile Destroyer INS Visakhapatnam, mission deployed in Gulf of Aden for antipiracy ops, swiftly responded to distress call by Marshall Island flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack at 2311 hours on 17 Jan 2024 and intercepted the MV at 0030 hrs on 18 January 24 to provide assistance," the Indian Navy said.

"MV Genco Picardy with 22 crew (including 9 Indians) reported nil casualties and fire under control," it said.

The Navy further said that Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialist from INS Visakhapatnam boarded the ship in early hours of Thursday.

"Damaged area thoroughly inspected & rendered safe by EOD specialists for trasiting to next port of call," it added.

The attack on Genco Picardy happened some 70 miles (110 kilometers) southeast of Aden, where the drone smashed into the vessel, said the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, an arm of the British navy that oversees Mideast waterways.

The ship's captain reported there was a fire on board that had been extinguished, it said.

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