INS Trishul of Indian Navy foils piracy attempt in Gulf of Aden

The gulf is located in the Arabian Sea between Yemen, on the south coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and Somalia in the Horn of Africa

INS Trishul, a stealth frigate of the Indian Navy, while on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden, was escorting a merchant vessel MV Jag Amar when she detected a boat carrying out suspicious manoeuvres in the vicinity of the merchant ship.

INS Trishul closed on the boat for investigation and launched her integral helicopter to investigate.

The skiff was carrying items identified as piracy triggers and some small arms with ammunition.

Marine commandos boarded the pirate boat and neutralised all piracy triggers in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures, the release said.

The merchant vessel Jag Amar with all 26 Indian crew is safe and is continuing her passage. The skiff and her crew were released.

The Indian Navy has been deploying a warship in the waters in and around the Gulf Of Aden since 2008 and has safely escorted hundreds of merchant vessels through these treacherous waters, the Defence Ministry release said.

Indian ships are mandated to prevent piracy and are not mandated for regional law enforcement.

The actions taken by the ship are the rationale for the continued deployment of Indian ships for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden.

Image: SpokespersonNavy/Twitter