Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft establish connection with distressed vessel MV Chem Pluto

The P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft of the Indian Navy successfully established communication with the distressed vessel MV Chem Pluto after taking off from the INS Hansa naval air base in Goa, Navy officials confirmed on Saturday. Meanwhile, an Indian Navy warship is en route to the vessel expected to reach the merchant ship within the next few hours. In response to a suspected drone attack, Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard vessels are mobilising towards the merchant vessel, MV Chem Pluto, which caught fire in the Arabian Sea. The incident occurred approximately 217 nautical miles off the Porbandar coast on Saturday, according to defence officials. Taking swift action, the Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS Vikram, deployed on patrol of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone started moving towards the merchant vessel MV Chem Pluto in distress. The Indian Navy warships in the vicinity are also moving towards the distressed vessel with around 20 Indian crew members, who are all reported to be safe. According to defence officials, the vessel had crude oil and was going towards Mangalore from a port in Saudi Arabia. The fire has been reportedly extinguished but has affected the functioning of the vessel. All crew members are safe, which includes around 20 Indians. The ICGS Vikram has alerted all ships in the area to assist it, according to defence officials. With inputs from ANI.