Indian Navy deploys missile destroyers in Arabian Sea amid attacks on commercial shipping

The Indian Navy on Monday said that it has deployed guided missile destroyer ships to maintain a deterrent presence in the Arabian Sea in view of recent attacks on commercial shipping.

The Navy made the statement after it inspected Liberian-flagged chemical tanker MV Chem Pluto, which had suffered a drone strike on Saturday. The tanker, carrying a crew of 21 Indians and a Vietnamese, was hit by a drone off India’s west coast when it was on its way to the New Mangalore port.

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard had sent vessels, including the ICGS Vikram, which patrols India’s exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean, towards the merchant ship to assist it.