The Pentagon mentioned this was the “seventh Iranian assault on business transport since 2021”.

New Delhi:

Indian Navy warship INS Mormugao reached MV Chem Pluto, the India-bound service provider vessel, which was ‘attacked’ by an Iranian drone, on Saturday evening and ascertained particulars of the assault, officers knowledgeable on Sunday.

Based on officers, the Indian Navy has opened an investigation into whether or not the drone used to assault the vessel was launched from lengthy vary or from a close-by vessel.

“The vessels working within the space the place the assault befell are being checked,” an official advised ANI.

A Pentagon spokesperson advised Reuters that the motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker, was struck at roughly 10 am native time (6 am GMT) in the present day within the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way assault drone fired from Iran.

In the meantime, officers mentioned the Indian Coast Guard ship Vikram was escorting MV Chem Pluto and each are anticipated to achieve the Mumbai coast on Monday.

Officers of the Indian Coast Guard mentioned ICGS Vikram had reached the distressed ship final night itself and each are in Indian waters in the meanwhile.

The incident comes as the most recent illustration of the rising regional tensions after the October 7 Hamas assaults on Israel.

The Pentagon mentioned this was the “seventh Iranian assault on business transport since 2021”.

MV Chem Pluto, with 20 Indian and one Vietnamese crew member on Saturday caught hearth after it was attacked by a suspected drone. It was later secured by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG), the ICG mentioned in an official assertion.

The service provider vessel reportedly commenced its voyage from the UAE on December 19 and was sure for New Mangalore port with an arrival date of December 25.

Based on the official assertion, on December 23, the Indian Coast Guard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai obtained info concerning a fireplace 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 lack of life and warranted all help.

It was additionally discovered that the vessel hearth had been doused by the crew. To enhance the vessel’s security, MRCC Mumbai has activated ISN and instantly diverted different service provider vessels within the neighborhood of Chem Pluto for help.

“The Indian Coast Guard additionally pressed Offshore Patrol vessel Vikram and Coast Guard Dornier maritime surveillance plane into motion for rendering help to Chem Pluto. The Coast Guard Dornier plane has sanitised the realm and established communication with Chem Pluto. The vessel has began making its approach in the direction of Mumbai after enterprise harm evaluation and repairs on its energy technology methods,” the assertion additional learn.

(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)