Senior Indian officials anticipate continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Arabian and Red Sea by pirates and Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Indian Navy faces challenges in maintaining increased deployments due to ongoing attacks. The US and India discussed maritime issues at the Munich Security Conference.
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The Houthi rebels in Yemen are suspected of carrying out a missile attack on a ship in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November in response to Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. Read more to stay updated on the situation.
Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer, INS Visakhapatnam, deployed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations, came to the aid of MV Marlin Luanda after it was hit by a Houthi anti-ship missile. The fire on the ship has been extinguished and the crew members are safe. MV Marlin Luanda is now heading towards a safe harbor. This incident follows a similar drone attack on another merchant ship, MV Genco Picardy.
Indian shipping companies are raising concerns as the escalating incidents in the Middle East threaten global trade. The Red Sea attacks by the Houthi rebels have led to increased shipping costs and disruptions in the supply chain. Indian exporters may see a drop of $30 billion in total exports in FY24. The Commerce Ministry will hold a meeting to strategize measures to mitigate the trade impact.
A merchant vessel transporting crude oil to India caught fire off the Porbandar coast, with a drone attack being suspected behind the incident. Indian Coast Guard and Navy assets have responded to the stricken vessel. No injuries have been reported and the fire has been put out. This is the first time that a suspected drone strike has taken place on a merchant vessel so close to the Indian coast line.
