INS Kochi, a destroyer of the Indian Navy responded following the attack
on the tanker, MV Andromeda Star, officials said. All the 30 crew members, including 22 Indians, are safe, they reported.
In a post on X, the Indian Navy wrote: “The MV was intercepted by Indian
Navy warship & an aerial recce by helo was undertaken to assess the
situation. The shipborne EOD team was deployed onboard MV for residual risk
assessment.A total of 30 crew (including 22 Indian nationals) are reported to
be safe and the vessel is continuing its scheduled transit to the next port.” It
added, “The swift action of Indian Navy ship reiterates the commitment &
resolve of the Navy in safeguarding the seafarers plying through the region.” An Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team
of the Navy was also deployed to carry out “residual risk assessment”, the Navy
said in a statement.
In the last few weeks, many merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean attacked by the Houthi militants were assisted by the Indian Navy.