NewsGate Press Netrwork

‘The ongoing situation in West Asia is precarious, and risky in the Red Sea area.’

On Thursday the 18th of January 2024 during the weekly presser of Ministry of External Affairs stated this while adding that flow of commerce has been impacted as many international shipping lines are taking a longer Cape of Good Hope route.

The official spokesperson of MEA, Randhir Jaiswal said for those shipping lines still using Red Sea-Suez Canal route – ‘the situation is a little risky in this part, closer to Red Sea, closer to the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea’.

Just before MEA’s weekly briefing, news came about another nasty incident of a possible hijacking a merchant ship and Indian Naval warship promptly responding to the distress call.

INS Visakhapatnam, mission deployed in Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations, swiftly responded to a distress call by Marshall Island flagged MV Genco Picardy following a drone attack at 2311 hrs on 17 Jan 24.

In a separate release issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), INS Visakhapatnam, undertaking anti piracy patrol in Gulf of Aden, acknowledged the distress call and intercepted the vessels at 0030 hrs on 18 Jan 24 in order to provide assistance. MV Genco Picardy with 22 crew (09 Indian) reported nil casualties and fire under control.

Indian Naval EOD specialists from INS Visakhapatnam boarded the vessel in early hours of 18 Jan 24 to inspect the damaged area. EOD specialists, after a thorough inspection have rendered the area safe for further transit. The vessel is proceeding to the next port of call, the MoD statement added.