A thorough examination by naval officials has indicated that the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto suffered damage from a drone attack located 400 kilometers off the Indian coastline. The vessel, carrying 21 crew members comprising 20 Indians and 1 Vietnamese, safely reached Mumbai port under the protective escort of the Indian Coast Guard ship Vikram, just two days after the incident occurred in the Arabian Sea.
Upon arrival at the Mumbai port, the Navy’s explosive ordnance disposal team conducted a meticulous inspection of the ship. Analysis of the debris found at the attack site and the damaged vessel strongly suggested a drone attack. Navy officials have emphasized the need for further forensic and technical analyses to comprehensively ascertain all details surrounding the incident.
Evidential images showcased the extent of damage inflicted on the ship’s stern, further corroborating suspicions of a drone attack. This occurrence unfolded amid a series of drone and missile attacks conducted by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on the Red Sea shipping lane. The Houthi rebels, claiming solidarity with Gaza, intensified their assaults since the initiation of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7.
In response to the escalating attacks on commercial vessels in the Arabian Sea, the Navy took swift action by deploying warships INS Mormugao, INS Kochi, and INS Kolkata to uphold a deterrent presence in the region. Additionally, long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft P8Is have been consistently tasked with maintaining domain awareness, according to officials.
The Pentagon squarely attributed the targeting of the tanker ship to a drone “fired from Iran,” marking a notable development as the first explicit accusation against Iran for directly targeting ships since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Navy and the Indian Coast Guard promptly mobilized their assets, including warships and maritime patrol aircraft, in response to the report of the drone attack by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday.
As a key military organization, the UKMTO functions as the primary point of contact for maritime incidents, providing maritime security information. The attacked vessel was reportedly transporting crude oil from Al Jubail port in Saudi Arabia to New Mangalore port.
MV Chem Pluto has received clearance for further operations from its Mumbai-based overseeing company. The vessel is now scheduled to undergo mandatory inspections by various inspecting authorities, followed by Ship-to-Ship (STS) cargo transfer, docking procedures, and repairs to address the damaged section. This comprehensive process ensures the vessel’s compliance with safety standards and operational integrity.
