- According to defence officials, the vessel has crude oil and was going towards Mangalore from a port in Saudi Arabia
- The merchant vessel was reported to be present at 217 nautical miles off Porbandar coast on Saturday
NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DEC 23
A vessel, MV Chem Pluto, carrying crude oil from Saudi Arabia to Mangalore was hit by a drone on Saturday, according to Defence reports.
DRONE ATTACK ON MV CHEM PLUTO-Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre,Mumbai received information regarding fire onboard MV Chem Pluto. The Merchant ship with 20 Indian &01 Vietnamese Crew was reportedly attacked by a suspected drone strike on aerial platform.(1/6) pic.twitter.com/CpioW9MfT9
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 23, 2023
#ICG Ship Vikram will be escorting the ship during its passage. #ICG Operations Centre is monitoring situation closely. The merchant vessel has reportedly commenced its Voyage from Saudi Arabia on 19 Dec 23 & was bound for New Mangalore port with arrival on 25 Dec 23. (6/6)
— Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) December 23, 2023
The merchant vessel was reported to be present at 217 nautical miles off Porbandar coast in Gujarat on Saturday, defence officials said.
After hours of hard work, the Indian Coast Guard’s maritime surveillance aircraft managed to establish contact with the Israel-affiliated merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto, which was set ablaze after being hit by a drone. Reports said Indian Navy warships were alerted and sent for help to MV Chem Pluto and rescue its crew members. 20 Indians are said to be on MV Chem Pluto which was set on fire after the drone strike near the Gujarat coast.
Indian Coast Guard officials told the media: “Indian warships and coast guard vessels are expected to reach the MV Chem Pluto around midnight. Security forces to investigate how the merchant vessel with high-value cargo was attacked on high seas through drones or other means.”
As per the latest reports, the fire caused by the aerial strike has been extinguished successfully and the crew members are said to be safe, but the vessel’s functioning was affected.
“After the drone attack, the ship switched off its Automatic Identification System which can be used for tracking the vessel. The power generation system of the ship is now functional and more checks are being carried out before it sets out for its destination,” Coast Guard officials said.
“A fire on the Liberian-flagged tanker was extinguished without crew casualties in the incident 200 km, southwest of Gujarat’s Veraval,” a British maritime security firm Ambrey alerted on Saturday, adding some “structural damage was also reported, and some water was taken onboard”.
The merchant vessel has reportedly commenced its Voyage from UAE on 19 Dec 23 and was bound for New Mangalore port with arrival on 25 Dec 23.