The Indian Navy rescued a Panama-flagged crude oil tanker, MV Andromeda Star, from a missile attack by Houthi militants recently. The Navy’s destroyer INS Kochi aided the vessel, which had 30 crew members, including 22 Indians, all of whom are now safe.
INS Kochi, deployed for maritime security, responded to the incident in the Red Sea. Houthi militants, backed by Iran, launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen, targeting the MV Andromeda Star and another merchant vessel.
Although the tanker sustained minor damage, the Indian Navy swiftly assessed the situation. They dispatched an explosive ordnance disposal team for risk assessment and conducted aerial reconnaissance using helicopters.
Thankfully, all crew members, including the 22 Indians, were unharmed. MV Andromeda Star resumed its journey after the evaluation.
In recent weeks, the Indian Navy has been actively supporting merchant vessels in the Western Indian Ocean region following similar incidents.
