Amid a set of attacks on cargo vessels, the Indian Navy once again got into action when the Iranian Fishing Vessel dubbed FV Al Arifi sent out a distress call. Answering the distress call from the fishing vessel, the Indian Naval vessel dubbed INS Shivalik Mission, reportedly deployed in the waters of the Gulf of Aden, rendered medical aid, including crucial medical supplies, to 18 Pakistani crew members onboard.

INS Shivalik has been deployed in the zone in consonance with India’s Navy mandate of Maritime Security Operations following the ambit of the PM’s vision titled Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). This is, however, not the Indian Navy’s first time in terms of coming to the rescue of distressed vessels.

Earlier in the month, one of India’s Naval vessel missions deployed for maritime security missions in the waters of the North Arabian Sea offered damage control support to an Iranian fishing vessel dubbed Ameen with six members of the crew on it.

The fishing vessel sustained extensive damage. This also included a hull breach that led to water ingress. In Jan 2024, INS Sumitra rescued a hijacked fishing vessel flying the flag of Iran, named Al Naeemi, off the eastern coast of Somalia. The latter has 19 members of the crew hailing from Pakistan.

Again, in the same month, INS Visakhapatnam’s firefighting team controlled the fire successfully on a merchant vessel named Marlin Luanda. The Indian Navy’s collaboration and prompt response with the merchant vessel’s crew helped ensure that the fire was soon under control.

Reference: TOI