IGCS Vikram escorts Merchant ship targeted by suspected drone to Indian shores

The merchant vessel en-route to India, which faced a drone attack, is currently being escorted back to Indian waters by the Coast Guard ship Vikram in the Arabian Sea, as per officials’ statements on Sunday. Following a suspected drone strike on the ship, it requested an escort from the ICGS Vikram, and both are anticipated to reach the Mumbai coast on Monday.

In response to the incident, Indian Coast Guard Dorniers are airborne for monitoring merchant vessels and conducting surveillance in the area, according to officials. A Pentagon spokesperson informed Reuters earlier today that the motor vessel, CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker, was hit around 10 am local time (6 am GMT) in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the Indian coast, by a one-way attack drone launched from Iran.

The Indian Navy has initiated an investigation into the origin of the drone used in the attack, examining whether it was launched from a long range or a nearby vessel. This event adds to the escalating regional tensions following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Pentagon has labeled this the “seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021.”

MV Chem Pluto, carrying 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member, caught fire on Saturday after the suspected drone attack. The Indian Coast Guard secured the vessel, as stated in their official statement. Departing from the UAE on December 19, the merchant vessel was bound for New Mangalore port with an expected arrival on December 25.

On December 23, the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai received information about the fire on MV Chem Pluto, believed to be caused by a suspected drone strike or aerial platform. Real-time communication with the vessel’s agent confirmed no loss of life, and assistance was assured. The crew had successfully extinguished the fire. To enhance the vessel’s safety, MRCC Mumbai activated the ISN and diverted nearby merchant vessels for assistance.

The Indian Coast Guard deployed the Offshore Patrol vessel Vikram and Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft to aid Chem Pluto. After sanitizing the area and establishing communication with the vessel, the Coast Guard Dornier aircraft confirmed that Chem Pluto is making its way to Mumbai after conducting damage assessment and repairs on its power generation systems.