Indian Navy foils possible piracy attack near merchant vessel in Western Indian Ocean

NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy warship INS Kolkata responded to inputs of suspected pirate enactment adjacent merchant vas MV Mashallah 1 successful the Western Indian Ocean, helping forestall a imaginable piracy attack, arsenic quality bureau ANI reported connected Wednesday.The warship, deployed adjacent the Gulf of Aden, launched an contiguous cognition aft receiving inputs astir suspicious movements astir the vessel. INS Kolkata utilized its onboard chopper for aerial surveillance and besides carried retired boarding operations to analyse the threat.The Navy said the timely enactment ensured the information of the merchant vessel and its crew.The Navy has maintained continuous anti-piracy patrols successful the Gulf of Aden since 2008 to support commercialized shipping routes successful the region.Meanwhile, the Navy’s punctual effect to the suspected piracy menace came amid heightened tensions successful the Middle East pursuing the America-Iran warfare that began connected February 28.