New Delhi: With an aim to save costs on maintenance and operations while also enhancing the value of the marine fleet through innovative, reliable and cost-effective methods, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has entered a contract agreement with a private firm for its six research ships, it was announced on Wednesday.The contract — for approximately Rs 142 crore for a three-year period — has been signed for Sagar Nidhi, Sagar Manjusha, Sagar Anveshika, and Sagar Tara (all managed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai; Sagar Kanya (managed by National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), Goa), and Sagar Sampada (managed by the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi. These research ships are the backbone for technology demonstration and oceanic research and observations in the country and have contributed significantly in enhancing the knowledge about our oceans and ocean-based resources.The Ministry of Earth Sciences is extending research ships as a national facility to other research institutes and organizations such as ISRO, PRL, NGRI, Anna University, etc. “A significant feature of this contract is the substantial year-wise saving achieved by the Ministry in the operation and maintenance charges of the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ research ships and the hi-tech scientific equipment / laboratories on board. It will include running, manning, maintenance (including maintenance and operation of scientific equipment), catering, and housekeeping of all these six research ships,” the Ministry said in a statement.The contract was signed in the presence of Dr. M. Ravichandran, MoES Secretary, and ABS Marine Services Pvt Ltd, Chennai. “The company would be the single point of contact for all ship-related modalities, unlike the present agreements, which MoES has with multiple agencies. This is in line with the government’s Ease of Doing Business initiatives and involvement of the private sector in government contracts,” said an official of the Ministry.—IANS

With an aim to save costs on maintenance and operations while also enhancing the value of the marine fleet through innovative, reliable and cost-effective methods, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has entered a contract agreement with a private firm for its six research ships, it was announced on Wednesday.

Now, Single Contract With A Pvt Company For Maintenance Of Six Research Vessels

New Delhi (The Hawk): The historical milestone was achieved at its zenith on 1st September, 2022 when ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’, cape vessel with an LOA of 299.92 mtrs. and a beam length of 50 mtrs on account of M/s Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) arrived at Sagar Anchorage on 01.09.2022 to discharge 70,300 MT of Coking Coal by Floating Cranes. This is the largest dry bulker to arrive at anchorage with the highest ever parcel load.
Incidentally, ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ is the 18th cape vessel in the current fiscal, while only four (04) cape vessels were handled till August in the last fiscal out of a total of fourteen (14) cape vessels, which were handled in 2021-22.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Cape vessel ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ LOA 299.92m, beam 50 mtrs. and a draft of 9.3m registered at Portugal. The load port of the vessel was New Port, USA and the last port of call is Dhamra. Railway Division of Haldia is working in tandem with Marine Division for quick evacuation of cargo from the port and this is making HDC, the most preferred port of call which is 80 Miles away from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMP, Kolkata) and 25 Miles away from Haldia Dock Complex (HDC).
After a long persuasion from the management of SMP Kolkata, SAIL has agreed to bring two (02) cape vessels per month and has a plan to mobilize cargo throughput of 1.5 MMT per annum at anchorages.
Calling of such a Cape Vessel ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ at Sagar Anchorage at 9.3 metre draft is a laudable landmark in the history of SMP, Kolkata despite its natural constraint being saddled with the responsibility of maintaining such one of the longest and most unpredictable navigational channels in the world said Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata.
Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata stated that the arrival of ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’ is significant, not only for being the 1st Cape vessel at Sagar, but also for carrying 70,300 MT of cargo which otherwise would have been carried in 2-3 separate vessels.
Appreciating this significant achievement Shri Kumar further stated that despite SMP, Kolkata being the only rivering major port in the country, SMP, Kolkata has been consistently maintaining its pivotal position in Indian Major Ports for the last 152 years.
Shri Vinit Kumar, Chairman, SMP, Kolkata emphatically said that with the active co-operation of port users, specially SAIL and whole hearted efforts of all employees SMP, Kolkata will be able to attain many other remarkable records.

The historical milestone was achieved at its zenith on 1st September, 2022 when ‘M V Mineral Yangfan’, cape vessel with an LOA of 299.92 mtrs. and a beam length of 50 mtrs on account of M/s Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) arrived at Sagar Anchorage on 01.09.2022 to discharge 70,300 MT of Coking Coal by Floating Cranes. This is the largest dry bulker to arrive at anchorage with the highest ever parcel load.

Kolkata Largest Cape Size Vessel With Highest Parcel Load Arrives At Sagar Anchorage In SMP Kolkata 

Thiruvananthapuram (The Hawk): Equatorial Guinea has detained a Norwegian oil ship, along with its 26 crew members, three of whom are from Kerala.
The sailors who have spoken to their families claim that they were held on suspicion of piracy in relation to crude oil.
The Norwegian ship Heroic Idun, which had arrived at the AKPO Terminal in Nigeria on August 8 to fill up with crude oil, was held when it set sail after being caught by a naval ship from Guinea.
The Norwegian ship owners reportedly offered $2,000,000 as ransom money, but the Guinea Navy refused, according to information that arrived from the ship.
Navigating officer Vijith, who is from Kollam's Sasthamkotta, is one of the crew members from Kerala. Speaking to reporters aboard the ship, he stated that they were concerned about the ship being turned over to Nigerian officials and that they believed Nigerians were responsible for the ship's detention.
"A Nigerian naval ship has anchored close to our ship, and we are unsure of our future. He continued, "We want the Indian government to step in and save us.
The Norwegian ship was still in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa on Sunday, according to international ship tracking websites.
The Gulf of Guinea is rife with oil piracy, according to insiders in the shipping sector.
In the meantime, V. Muraleedharan, the state minister for foreign affairs, informed reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that the Indian government would return the Indian sailors who were imprisoned in Guinea. In order to stop the sailors from being turned over to the Nigerian Navy, he added that ministry officials had been in touch with local government representatives.
(Inputs from Agencies)

Equatorial Guinea has detained a Norwegian oil ship, along with its 26 crew members, three of whom are from Kerala. The sailors who have spoken to their families claim that they were held on suspicion of piracy in relation to crude oil.

Equatorial Guinea detains 3 Keralite seamen from a Norwegian oil vessel

New Delhi: There is a 'large presence' of Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean Region and India keeps a 'very close watch' on the developments in the region to protect and preserve its national interests in the maritime domain, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar said on Saturday.
During an interaction at a conclave in New Delhi, he also said that the Indian Navy is seized of the docking of various PLA Navy ships at ports in Pakistan, and it is 'keeping a watch on it'.
Asked about the threat aspects, the Navy chief spoke of both conventional and non-conventional threats, besides those emerging from what he described as 'silent and inclusive paradigm' resulting in a 'web of threats' that are emerging.
The Indian Navy's role is to protect, promote and preserve national interests in the maritime domain, wherever they are, and it assesses the threats and challenges.
"On a daily basis, it is being seen that there is a certain amount of contestation happening at sea. It is well below the threshold of conflict, but possibility of a full-fledged cannot be ruled out," the Navy chief said.
On a question on PLA Navy ships docking at ports in Pakistan, he said, these ships are docking at ports in various countries, and not just in Pakistan.
As far as their visit to ports in Pakistan are concerned, 'we are seized of it, and keep a watch on it', he said.
Admiral Kumar said the Pakistan Navy is modernising itself at a good pace and seeks to become a 50-platform force in 10-15 years, and they are adding new corvettes and frigates to their fleet. As far as China is concerned, in the last 10 years, a large number of ships and submarines have been commissioned by it in the last 10 years, the third aircraft carrier is under construction, and much larger destroyers they are working on, he said, adding, 'we feel this will plateau at some time'.
"We are keeping a very close watch in the Indian Ocean Region... and effort is to know whose presence is there and what are they up to, monitoring it 24x7 and we deploy aircraft, UAVs, ships, submarines, etc.," the Navy chief said.
"There is a large presence of Chinese vessels. At any point of time, there are 3-6 Chinese warships in the India Ocean Region," he said, adding some are close to the Gulf of Oman, and some in the eastern part of the IOR, among other places.
Chinese research vessels are ever present, numbering from 2-4 and Chinese fishing vessels as well. So, there is a large presence of Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean Region, and India Navy keeps track of it, the Navy chief said.
"So, we refine our plans, actions that are required to be taken, and this also feeds into our capability development," the Navy chief said.
Later, in response to a query from audience on Chinese research vessels, Admiral Kumar said, these vessels have the ability to track and collect electronic signals.
When they operate, close to 'our areas of national interest', the Indian Navy keeps an eye, and it has its ships which 'monitor them very, very closely'.
On a question on whether modernisation and capability development has any link with threat assessment, he said, modernisation is part of the process and not threat-driven.
And, a Navy has to be a 'well-balanced force', so, it's not about nuclear submarine vis-a-vis aircraft carrier, as each of the two bring their own capabilities and they are 'not either/or', Admiral Kumar said.
On Atmanirbhar Bharat, he reiterated that the Indian Navy has 'committed to the national leadership that we (Navy) will be fully Atmanirbhar by 2047'.
—PTI

 There is a 'large presence' of Chinese vessels in the Indian Ocean Region and India keeps a 'very close watch' on the developments

Large Presence Of Chinese Vessels In IOR: Navy Chief

New Delhi: Two days ago, a Chinese fishing vessel carrying 39 people overturned in the Indian Ocean, prompting the Indian Navy to send out a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to aid in the hunt for survivors.
The P8I aircraft conducted several, comprehensive searches on Wednesday despite bad weather, and the Navy said they found multiple debris that could have come from the sunken ship.
On Tuesday, the Chinese ship "Lu Peng Yuan Yu 028" capsized in the middle of the Indian Ocean.—Inputs from Agencies

Two days ago, a Chinese fishing vessel carrying 39 people overturned in the Indian Ocean, prompting the Indian Navy to send out a P-8I maritime patrol aircraft to aid in the hunt for survivors.

Chinese fishing vessel sinks in Indian Ocean; Indian Navy deploys P8I aircraft to help search operation

Chinese fishing vessel sinks in Indian Ocean; India Navy deploys P8I aircraft to help search operation

Washington: According to a new study, patients with heart disease may benefit from less invasive procedures owing to cutting-edge technology that builds 3D computer simulations of blood flow via the heart's arteries. The research was presented at the British Cardiovascular Society in Manchester. The research team discovered that integrating the VIRTUHeartTM technology with clinicians treating heart attack patients would have improved the management of more than 20 per cent of patients. In many circumstances, it would have resulted in fewer patients undergoing an invasive surgery like a stent placement. By giving doctors a clearer picture of a patient's arteries, the research funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) showed that VIRTUHeartTM could help more heart patients to get the right treatment for them, free up doctors' time and better meet demand on heart care services. The researchers are currently investigating the impact this technology could have if it was used widely in the NHS, including the effect it might have on waiting lists. They hope that it could be in use in as little as three years. Dr Hazel Arfah Haley, Interventional Cardiologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led the study. She said: "By giving doctors a better understanding of what is happening inside their patient's blood vessels, we've shown that this technology has the potential to help improve how we assess and treat heart disease, ensuring patients have the treatment that best meets their needs. "Our team are also investigating whether VIRTUHeartTM could improve treatment for people with another common heart condition called angina, helping to make sure that even more patients get the treatment they need first time around." There are up to 250,000 coronary angiograms performed in the UK every year - a test which allows doctors to look inside a patient's coronary arteries (which supply the heart muscle with blood) and check for blockages. This is one of the first tests that patients admitted to hospital with a heart attack will undergo and helps doctors plan treatment to restore blood supply to the heart muscle. But angiograms can be hard to interpret when an artery is only partly blocked, and this can make it challenging for treatment decisions to be made, particularly when doctors are managing patients with complex heart disease. The innovative technology, developed by researchers at the University of Sheffield, re-creates another invasive but underused test called a Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) in which doctors insert a special wire into arteries to calculate how well blood is flowing. FFR is underused for several reasons including time pressure, availability, complex anatomy, and operator's familiarity. Using only the images from a patient's angiogram, VIRTUHeartTM works as a "virtual FFR" and creates computer models of their blood vessels, allowing doctors to calculate blood flow and find out more about the extent of blockages. Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said, "There are around 100,000 hospital admissions each year due to heart attacks, mostly caused by the coronary arteries becoming narrowed and blocked by a build-up of fatty plaques. "Technologies like VIRTUHeartTM show real promise to improve treatment as well as reducing unnecessary interventions, expense and complications and freeing up clinicians' time to treat other patients." —ANI

According to a new study, patients with heart disease may benefit from less invasive procedures owing to cutting-edge technology 

How Virtual Blood Vessel Technology Improves Heart Disease Care: Study

New Delhi (The Hawk): Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane laid the keel of four Coast Guard Fast Patrol vessels (FPVs) on 25th August, 2023 at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL). Speaking on the occasion, the Defence Secretary applauded the efforts of Goa Shipyard in achieving this milestone, especially the scale of indigenization in collaboration with the Indian industry. He emphasized on the importance to nurture and develop the shipbuilding industry of the country which has had a rich legacy. While highlighting the major achievements of the Goa Shipyard, he emphasized that the industry is increasingly becoming competitive and urged the GSL to gear up in terms of efficiency and competitiveness in order to retain the cutting edge.
The FPV designed by GSL is a medium range weapon fitted surface vessel with length of 51.43 mtrs, and breadth 8 mtrs.The ship is propelled with twin engine and has maximum speed of 27 Knots. Displacement of the vessel is approx. 320 Tons, and it is capable of operating in rough sea conditions.
These vessels for the Indian Coast Guard are based on in-house design of GSL and will be fitted with most modern and technologically advanced machinery and computerized controls systems, making these the state of the art Fast Patrol Vessels of the Indian Coast Guard.
DGCG Rakesh Pal congratulated the Chairman and Managing Director, officers and workers of Goa Shipyard Limited for their dedicated efforts. DGCG said GSL will continue to strive for perfection and achieve higher goals in the years ahead.&nbsp;
Defence Secreatry also inaugurated GSL Integrated Stores Complex. Director General, Indian Coast Guard, Shri Prakash Pal, Chairman and Managing Director, GSL, Shri Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, and other officials of ICG were present on the occasion.

Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane laid the keel of four Coast Guard Fast Patrol vessels 

Defence Secretary lays keel of 4 Fast Patrol Vessels for Indian Coast Guard

Mumbai: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday launched ‘Mahendragiri’, the fourth Stealth Frigate of Project-17 Alpha, being built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).  The fourth and final ship of the Nilgiri Class being constructed by the MDL, the ‘Mahendragiri’ has been designed by the Indian Navy’s Bureau of Naval Design and will be fitted with advanced state-of-the-art weapons, sensors, communication facilities and other systems.  The first ship in the P-17A ‘Nilgiri’ was launched in September 2019 and is expected to go for sea trials around mid-2024, the second ship P-17A ‘Udaygiri’ was launched in May 2022 with sea trials in the second half of 2024, and the third ‘Taragiri’ was launched in September 2020 with delivery expected by August 2025.
Named after a mountain peak in the Eastern Ghats in Odisha, the keel of ‘Mahendragiri’ was laid in June 2022, and like the previous versions, is being built with integrated construction methodology.  The P-17A series is valued at a total Rs.27,500 crore and the MDL Mumbai is constructing four of the seven ships in this class.  The ‘Mahendragiri’ will be around 149 metres long and 16 metres wide, with a displacement of around 6,600 tons and a speed of some 30 knots.  Akin to the other three frigates, the steel used in the hull construction is indigenously developed DMR 249A, a low-carbon micro-alloy grade steel manufactured by SAIL.  The P-17A ships are far more advanced than any other frigates operated by the Indian Navy and come with powerful weapons and sensor packages which are capable of neutralising threats from three dimensions – air, surface, and sub-surface.  The indigenously-designed ‘Mahendragiri’ will have state-of-the-art weaponry, sensors, advanced action information system, integrated platform management system, world-class modular living spaces, sophisticated power distribution system and other modern features.  It will be fitted with a supersonic surface-to-surface missile system, and its air defence capability designed to counter enemy aircraft threats and anti-ship cruise missiles will revolve around the vertical launch and long-range surface-to-air missile system.  The ship will have two 30-mm rapid-fire guns for close-in-defence capability and an SRGM Gun will provide effective naval gunfire support, plus other ‘punches’ like an indigenously developed triple tube lightweight torpedo launchers and rocket launchers for anti-submarine operations.  Incidentally, last month, President Droupadi Murmu had launched the ‘INS Vindhyagiri’ of the P-17A in Kolkata, the last of the three being built by the GRSE Ltd.
—IANS

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday launched ‘Mahendragiri’, the fourth Stealth Frigate of Project-17 Alpha, being built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).

VP Dhankhar launches MDL’s 4th stealth frigate ‘Mahendragiri’

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday launched ‘Mahendragiri’, the fourth Stealth Frigate of Project-17 Alpha, being built by the Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd (MDL).


United Nations: The UN Secretary-General is following with "deep concern" reports of the seizure of a vessel by the Houthis in the Red Sea that was reportedly en route between Turkiye and India, a spokesperson said.  On Sunday, a British-owned and Japanese-operated ship named "Galaxy Leader" was seized near Hodeida, Yemen, while sailing for India, according to the vessel's operator, NYK Line.  The vehicle carrier had 25 crew members who were taken hostage by Yemen's Houthi rebels.
The NYK said in a press release that it "organised a crisis management centre at its head office to gather information and manage this incident".
"As the vessel's charterer, we are prioritising the safety of the 25 crew members," the NYK said.  "I was asked about the incident that took place in the Red Sea concerning the ship, and I can tell you that while the circumstances around the incident remain unclear, we are following with deep concern reports of the seizure by the Houthis of a vessel flying the flag of the Bahamas in the Red Sea and reportedly en route between Turkiye and India," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said at the daily press briefing on Monday.  "We reaffirm the importance of ensuring that international law is respected in full in relation to maritime navigation, freedom of navigation," Dujarric said, adding that the UN urges all concerned parties and countries in the region to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from taking any escalatory actions.
—PTI

The UN Secretary-General is following with "deep concern" reports of the seizure of a vessel by the Houthis in the Red Sea

Deep concern over reports of seizure of India-bound vessel by Houthis in Red Sea: UN spokesperson

New Delhi: A merchant vessel named MV Chem Pluto was struck by a drone causing an explosion and fire within the vessel in the Arabian Sea off India's coast.  According to UKMTO (United Kingdom Trade Operations) officials, an attack caused by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle aboard a ship 200 nautical miles (around 370 km) from Veraval in Gir Somnath district of Gujarat, caused an explosion and fire.  It has been learned that the fire on the vessel was extinguished, and all crew members were safe.  The UKMTO further said that the authorities are investigating the incident.  The vessels have been advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
—IANS

A merchant vessel named MV Chem Pluto was struck by a drone causing an explosion and fire within the vessel in the Arabian Sea off India's coast.

Drone hits merchant vessel off India's coast causing fire

New Delhi [India]: Indian Navy warship INS Mormugao reached MV Chem Pluto, the India-bound merchant vessel, which was 'attacked' by an Iranian drone, on Saturday night and ascertained details of the attack, officials informed on Sunday. According to officials, the Indian Navy has opened an investigation into whether the drone used to attack the vessel was launched from long range or from a nearby vessel.
"The vessels operating in the area where the attack took place are being checked," an official told ANI. A Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters that the motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker, was struck at approximately 10 am local time (6 am GMT) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran.
Meanwhile, officials said the Indian Coast Guard ship Vikram was escorting MV Chem Pluto and both are expected to reach the Mumbai coast on Monday. Officials of the Indian Coast Guard said ICGS Vikram had reached the distressed ship last evening itself and both are in Indian waters at the moment. The incident comes as the latest illustration of the growing regional tensions after the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. The Pentagon said this was the "seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021". MV Chem Pluto, with 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member on Saturday caught fire after it was attacked by a suspected drone. It was later secured by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the ICG said in an official statement. The merchant vessel reportedly commenced its voyage from the UAE on December 19 and was bound for New Mangalore port with an arrival date of December 25.
According to the official statement, on December 23, the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai received information regarding a fire onboard MV Chem Pluto, reportedly attacked by a suspected drone strike or aerial platform. The Indian Coast Guard Maritime Coordination Centre (MRCC), which established real-time communication with the vessel's agent, ascertained no loss of life and assured all assistance. It was also learned that the vessel fire had been doused by the crew. To augment the vessel's safety, MRCC Mumbai has activated ISN and immediately diverted other merchant vessels in the vicinity of Chem Pluto for assistance. "The Indian Coast Guard also pressed Offshore Patrol vessel Vikram and Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft into action for rendering assistance to Chem Pluto. The Coast Guard Dornier aircraft has sanitised the area and established communication with Chem Pluto. The vessel has started making its way towards Mumbai after undertaking damage assessment and repairs on its power generation systems," the statement further read.
—ANI

Indian Navy warship INS Mormugao reached MV Chem Pluto, the India-bound merchant vessel, which was 'attacked' by an Iranian drone

Navy investigating drone attack on merchant ship off Indian coast: Officials

New Delhi: A commercial oil tanker named 'MV Sai Baba' that reportedly came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea is not an Indian-flagged vessel, Indian officials said on Sunday.
The clarification came after the US Central Command (CENTCOM) described the vessel as an Indian-flagged ship.  The officials said 'MV Sai Baba' is a Gabon-flagged vessel and it had received a certification from the Indian register of shipping.  Vessels around the world can obtain the certification from registration authorities in various countries.  In a post on 'X', the US Central Command mentioned the attack on 'MV Sai Baba' along with a similar strike targeting another vessel on Saturday.
"The M/V BLAAMANEN, a Norwegian-flagged, owned, and operated chemical/oil tanker, reported a near miss of a Houthi one-way attack drone with no injuries or damage reported," it said.  "A second vessel, the M/V SAIBABA, a Gabon-owned, Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, reported that it was hit by a one-way attack drone with no injuries reported," it added.  The US Central Command is one of key unified combatant commands of the US.  "It is a Gabon-flagged vessel," clarified an Indian official.  The US Central Command's report came a day after merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto, with around 20 Indian crew members, was hit by a suspected drone about 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast in the Arabian sea.  There was no report of any casualties in the incident, Indian military sources said.  The incidents came against the backdrop of Iran-backed Houthi rebels stepping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
—PTI

A commercial oil tanker named 'MV Sai Baba' that reportedly came under a drone attack in the Southern Red Sea is not an Indian-flagged vessel

Oil tanker 'MV Sai Baba' that came under drone attack in Red Sea not Indian-flagged vessel: Officials

New Delhi: Considering the recent spate of attacks in the Arabian sea, Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers INS Mormugao, INS Kochi and INS Kolkata (Guided Missile Destroyers) in various areas to maintain a deterrent presence. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that long-range maritime reconnaissance P8I aircraft are also being regularly tasked to maintain domain awareness.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.thehawk.in/posts/japan-hosts-grand-cycle-tokyo-event" target="_self">https://www.thehawk.in/posts/japan-hosts-grand-cycle-tokyo-event</a> Meanwhile, 'MV Chem Pluto' (Liberian Flag Chemical/Oil Tanker) carrying 21 Indian and one Vietnamese crew, earlier reported as attacked by a suspected drone on December 23, reached Mumbai and anchored safely at the Outer Anchorage, officials said. The MoD said that on its arrival, the Indian Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal team inspected the vessel to make a preliminary assessment of the type and nature of attack. Analysis of the area of attack and debris found on the ship points towards a drone attack. However, further forensic and technical analysis will be required to establish the vector of attack, including type and amount of explosive used, officials added. A joint investigation by various agencies has commenced on completion of the analysis by the Navy's Explosive Ordnance Team. MV Chem Pluto has been cleared for further operation by its company-in-charge at Mumbai, officials added. The MoD said that this ship is scheduled to undergo mandatory checks by the various inspecting authorities before undertaking Ship to Ship (STS) transfer of cargo. This is likely to be followed by docking and repairs of the damaged portion of MV Chem Pluto. Western Naval Command's Maritime Operations Centre is actively monitoring the situation in close coordination with Coast Guard and all concerned agencies, officials added.
—IANS

Considering the recent spate of attacks in the Arabian sea, Indian Navy has deployed Guided Missile Destroyers INS Mormugao

Navy deploys Guided Missile Destroyers in Arabian sea

New Delhi: Indian warship INS Kolkata has rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, after their Barbados-flagged cargo vessel was hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden, a Navy spokesperson said on Thursday.
The crew members had abandoned bulk carrier MV True Confidence after it caught fire following the attack on Wednesday.  INS Kolkata, deployed for maritime security operations in the Gulf of Aden, arrived at the scene of action at 4.45 pm and rescued 21 crew members, including one Indian national, from a life raft using its integral helicopter and boats, Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
Critical medical aid was provided to the injured crew by the ship's medical team, he said.  The rescued crew, including the critically injured personnel, have been evacuated to Djibouti by INS Kolkata.  The Indian Navy warship swiftly responded to the maritime incident in the Gulf of Aden, Madhwal said.  The Barbados-flagged vessel was reportedly hit by a drone approximately 55 nm southwest of Aden resulting in the fire on board and critical injuries to some of the crew members forcing the crew to abandon the ship, he said.  The fresh incident came amid increasing global concerns over attacks on various commercial vessels in the Red Sea by the Houthi militants.  In the last few weeks, the Indian Navy has extended assistance to several merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean following attacks on them.
—PTI

INS Kolkata rescues crew after missile attack on Barbados-flagged vessel in Gulf of Aden. Indian Navy's swift response amid rising tensions in the region.

Indian warship rescues crew of drone-hit vessel in Gulf of Aden

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has foiled an attempt by Somali pirates to hijack ships by intercepting their vessel in the high seas off the east coast of Somalia, officials said on Saturday.
The pirates had sailed out on board a ship that was hijacked around three months ago, they said.
<a href="https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1768845479390130611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1768845479390130611%7Ctwgr%5E745d4b7bb60f67f2fb777a4abe04a4aeaf8e848d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.deccanherald.com%2Findia%2Fwatch-indian-navy-thwarts-attempt-of-somali-pirates-to-hijack-ships-2939385" target="_self">https://twitter.com/indiannavy/status/1768845479390130611?</a>
"The ex-MV Ruen, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates on 14 December, was reported to have sailed out as a pirate ship towards conducting acts of piracy on high seas," the Navy said.
The vessel was intercepted by an Indian Navy warship on March 15, it said.  The Navy said the vessel opened fire on the warship, which took actions following international law in self defence and to counter piracy with minimal force necessary to neutralise the pirates' threat to shipping and seafarers.  "The pirates onboard the vessel have been called upon to surrender and release the vessel and any civilians they may be holding against their will," the Navy said in a statement.  "The Indian Navy remains committed to maritime security and safety of seafarers in the region," it added.
—PTI

Indian Navy intercepts Somali pirates' hijack attempt off Somalia, neutralizing piracy threat to ensure maritime security and seafarers' safety.

Watch: Indian Navy thwarts attempt of Somali pirates to hijack ships

New Delhi [India]: Vowing further naval interventions to secure distressed shipping assets on the high seas, Navy Chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar on Saturday flagged concerns over the resurfacing of piracy as an 'industry' to gain from 'disorder in the region'. Addressing media persons on the completion of hundred days of naval operations against operations for anti-drone, anti-missile, and anti-piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, and Red Sea, Admiral Hari Kumar said the Navy will continue taking affirmative action to prevent such incidents, adding that 'Operation Sankalp', the naval operation to secure the crew of Bulgaria-flagged merchant vessel MV Ruen, has broken the myth of short and swift operations and stressed the need for sustained interventions to ensure the safety and stability of shipping assets in the oceans.
"Piracy has resurfaced as an industry to gain from the disorder in the region. We will take affirmative action to prevent that," the Nacy chief said at the press conference on Saturday. "Operation Sankalp has broken the myth of short and swift operations and stressed the need for sustained operations to ensure safety and stability in the oceans. The pace of operations is quite high and we have 11 submarines and 30 warships operating in different parts of the ocean to ensure coverage of all areas of interest," Admiral Hari Kumar added. "We have deployed 10 warships in the entire region for anti-piracy, anti-missile, and anti-drone operations under Operation Sankalp. The task is to ensure safety and stability for merchant vessels carrying cargo to reach shores safely. Because they are deployed there, they can respond to attacks or incidents as first responders," the Navy chief added.
The Navy chief noted no Indian vessels were targeted were prirates, adding that the Houthi rebels were targeting vessels linked to Israel. "None of our Indian vessels have been targeted. The Houthis have been targeting vessels with linkages to Israel. They are also targeting ships with flags of Western countries like the UK and the US. We are getting involved because we have Indian crew on almost all these ships," Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff on the 100 days of the Indian Navy's operations for anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Red Sea," the Navy chief said. Calling the Maritime Piracy Act 2022 a 'great enabler', Admiral Hari Kumar added that it has now enabled the force to visit, board and search pirated ships. "The Maritime Piracy Act 2022 has now enabled us to visit, board and search pirated ships. This act is a great enabler. In the last 100 days, we may have made at least 1000 such boardings," Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff on the 100 days of the Indian Navy's operations for anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Red Sea," he said. "Details of the ships can be found with the automatic identification system and it is easy for Houthi rebels in Yemen, and that is how they have been targeting the ships through missiles and drones. Drones are also being used to monitor the ships," the Navy chief added.
Earlier, on Saturday, as many as 35 Somali pirates, who were captured by the Indian Navy, were handed over to Mumbai Police after due formalities of Customs and Immigration. Visuals from the Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, showed the pirates standing in a queue as Mumbai Police assigned them chest numbers. The operation involved a navy destroyer, a patrol ship, an Indian Air Force C-17 transporter flying more than 1,500 miles to airdrop marine commandos, a naval drone, a reconnaissance drone and a P-8 surveillance jet, the Indian Navy release said. Somali pirates' capture of the MV Ruen in December last year marked the first successful hijacking of a vessel off the country's coast since 2017. But when the Ruen, now operated by a pirate crew, last week left Somali waters with the intent of committing acts of piracy on the high seas, the Indian Navy made moves to intercept it. Based on the analysis of the surveillance information the Indian Navy was able to track the movement of the Pirate Ship Ruen and directed INS Kolkata to intercept the ship approximately 260 Nm East of Somalia. Kolkata intercepted Ruen in the morning of March 15, and confirmed the presence of armed pirates through a ship-launched drone. The pirates shot down the drone and fired at the Indian Naval warship. In a calibrated response INS Kolkata disabled the ship's steering system and navigational aids, forcing the Pirate Ship to stop. INS Kolkata undertook precisely measured actions while maintaining her position close to the Pirate Ship and also engaged in forceful negotiations, which resulted in the Pirates surrendering and releasing the pirate ship MV Ruen and its original crew present onboard.
All 35 Somali pirates surrendered March 16. All 17 original crew members of MV Ruen were also safely evacuated from the pirate vessel without any injury.
—ANI

Indian Navy Chief vows action against piracy resurgence, emphasizing sustained maritime safety operations. Operation Sankalp and the Maritime Piracy Act 2022 lead the charge.

Piracy has resurfaced as industry, Indian Navy to ensure it is prevented: Admiral R Hari Kumar

Maryland [US]: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) interviewed the ship's captain, his mate, the chief engineer, and one other engineer onboard the merchant vessel MV Dali, which struck Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said at a press conference on Wednesday. Providing an update on the callapse of the collapse of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, Hornandy said there were 21 crew members and two pilots onboard the Singapore based Dali cargo ship when it crashed into Baltimore's Key Bridge.
The nodal investigating federal agency informed that the two pilots on board the Dali at the time of the collision will be interviewed on Thursday and the board will try to determine what occurred onboard the Dali and also look at the structure of the bridge itself. A preliminary timeline of what led up to the Key Bridge collapse was also shared with information from the Voyage Data Reporter (VDR). Marcel Muise, the National Transportation Safety Board investigator in charge, shared the events as they occurred. He informed that the ship departed around 12:39 a.m. (local time) and had entered the channel by 1:07 a.m. At 1:24:59 ET, numerous aural alarms were recorded on the ship's bridge audio.
At 1:26:02 ET, steering commands and rudder orders were recorded on the audio and the ship's pilot made a radio call at 1:26:39 ET for tugs in the general vicinity to assist. This was detailed as the first sign of needing help. Around this time, the MDTA duty officer was called regarding the blackout. At 1:27:04 ET, the pilot ordered for the port anchor to be dropped and made additional steering commands. At 1:27:25 ET, the pilot issued a radio call, reporting that the Dali had lost all power and was approaching the bridge. The chief investigator also said that the recording were in a foreign language and are currently being analyzed. According to the NTSB, the investigation will take 12-24 months. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy said the investigation would be a "massive undertaking". She added that the NTSB will not hesitate to issue urgent safety recommendations during that time frame, and a preliminary report is expected in only two to four weeks. Asked about the condition of the containter ship, Jennifer Homendy said: "It is pretty devastating certainly, seeing not just what is going on with cargo containers but looking at what were three bridge spans that are pretty much gone.   "It is utter devastation, and when I look at something like that, I am thinking not about the container ships or traffic getting backed up and running on the bridge, I am thinking of the families who have lost loved ones and the families waiting to reunite with loved ones and what they must be going through." Hormandy also confirmed that the Dali container ship currently has power. "They (crew) are not sitting in the dark, but it cannot move," the chief concluded. As the investigation proceeds, Deputy Commandant for Operations for the US Coast Guard, Vice Admiral Peter Gautier, highlighted that the crew, predominantly including Indian and Sri Lankan members, is cooperating with what they need. Vice Admiral Peter Gautier further said that these crew members are still there and are engaged in the dialogue and the investigation. "The crew is cooperating with what we need. They remain on board and are predominantly an Indian crew, with one Sri Lankan crew member on board. They're still there and very much engaged in the dialogue and the investigation," he said. The Singapore-flagged vessel collided with one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland, leading to its collapse on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the bodies of two men were pulled from the Patapsco River as officials announced that they would cease recovery operations, citing safety concerns for divers and an inability to reach the additional vehicles that might be trapped within the structure of the bridge. US President Joe Biden has also lauded the prompt action by personnel on board the cargo ship 'Dali', which struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, causing the bridge to plunge into the river below sending several people and vehicles into the water.
Shipping company Synergy Maritime Group, which managed the Singapore-flagged freight ship in a statement on Tuesday that the entire 22-member crew of the vessel are Indians. Personnel on board the ship were able to alert the Maryland Department of Transportation that they had lost control of their vessel, prompting the local authorities to close the bridge to traffic before the catastrophic impact, a move which "undoubtedly" saved lives, President Biden on Wednesday said during his comments at the White House regarding the Baltimore bridge collapse. Moreover, among those reported missing following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, US, are Mexican nationals, CNN reported, citing Rafael Laveaga, Chief of the Consular Section of Mexico's Embassy in Washington.
—ANI

NTSB delves into the MV Dali's collision with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, examining crew actions and bridge structure in a detailed investigation following the catastrophic collapse.

US National Transportation Safety Board interviews captain, crew of ship that struck Baltimore bridge

New Delhi: The Indian Navy has freed an Iranian fishing vessel that was hijacked by pirates and rescued its crew of 23 Pakistani nationals, following 'intense coercive tactical measures' as part of an anti-piracy operation at sea that lasted for more than 12 hours, officials said.
Following Friday's operation, specialist teams from the Navy undertook a thorough sanitisation and seaworthiness check of the fishing vessel in order to escort it to a safe area for resuming normal fishing activities, according to an official statement shared by a Navy spokesperson.  The Navy said late on Friday evening that it was engaged in an operation to free the fishing vessel from pirates. Nine armed pirates had reportedly boarded the vessel.  The hijacked vessel was intercepted on Thursday, the Navy said.  "INS Sumedha intercepted FV 'Al Kambar' during early hours of Friday and was joined subsequently by the guided missile frigate INS Trishul," it said.
"After more than 12 hours of intense coercive tactical measures as per the SOPs, the pirates on board the hijacked fishing vessel were forced to surrender. The crew, comprising 23 Pakistani nationals, have been safely rescued," the Navy added.  The fishing vessel was approximately 90 nm (nautical miles) southwest of Socotra when the pirates reportedly boarded it, it said.  The Indian Navy said it remains committed to ensuring maritime security in the region and the safety of seafarers, "irrespective of the nationalities."  The Socotra Archipelago is in the northwest Indian Ocean near the Gulf of Aden.
The Navy will take 'affirmative action' to ensure a safer and more secure Indian Ocean Region, its chief, Admiral R Hari Kumar, told a press conference on March 23 while citing the anti-piracy and other maritime security operations undertaken by the naval force in the preceding 100 days under 'Op Sankalp'.  As part of the maritime security operations, the Navy has undertaken anti-piracy, anti-missiles and anti-drones operations. A total of 110 lives -- 45 Indians and 65 foreign nationals -- were saved during 'Op Sankalp' in that 100-day period, according to a PPT presentation given by a naval officer before the Navy chief's press conference.  It was also mentioned in the presentation that from November last year till March, "more than 90 maritime incidents have happened," including 57 drone or missile attacks or sightings and 39 incidents of piracy, hijacking and suspicious approaches.
—PTI

Indian Navy's anti-piracy operation frees hijacked Iranian fishing vessel, rescues 23, following intense tactics. Ensuring maritime security remains a priority.

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