‘Superpower India rises, China rises’: International praises navy’s Gulf of Aden rescue operation

India has received international praise for its timely assistance to a commercial oil tanker hit by a missile in the Gulf of Aden.

Also Read | INS Visakhapatnam responds to distress call from missile-hit merchant ship; 22 Indians on board

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Marshall Islands-flagged MV Marlin Luanda was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Indian Navy deployed the guided-missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam on Saturday to help put out a fire on the tanker with 22 Indian crew members on board.

British journalist Mark Urban said: “Among emerging powers, how India responded to the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea crises is fascinating…China is not…”

Historian Martin Sauerbrey posted on

Columnist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra posted: “India has been providing security for shipping in the Arabian Sea, while China, which has a base in Djibouti, has not…”

Hassan Sajwani posted: “Indian Navy helped extinguish and secure British tanker carrying Russian oil product #MarlinLuanda in the Gulf of Aden.”

A six-hour battle with the fire

Indian Navy spokesman Commander Vivek Madhwal said in New Delhi that after six hours of fighting with the crew of the “Marin Luanda”, the Indian Navy’s fire brigade successfully controlled the fire.

Iran-backed Houthi rebels reportedly launched a missile attack on the ship, amid growing global concerns about security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Although the vessel is owned by British company Oceanix Services, it is operated by Singaporean company Trafigura. The Houthis have been targeting commercial ships in the Red Sea and adjacent areas since November, apparently in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. “In response to the distress call sent by MV Marlin Luanda, INS Visakhapatnam has initiated assistance. A US and French warship also responded to the distress call,” Madhwal said.

Also Read | ‘We are on fire’: British tanker sends distress message after Houthi attack; Indian Navy responds

He said the fire brigade from Visakhapatnam, consisting of 10 Indian Navy personnel equipped with professional fire-fighting equipment, boarded the MV Marlin Luanda in the early hours of Saturday.

A Navy spokesman said the team was currently monitoring the situation to rule out any possibility of a “reignition”. “The Indian Navy remains firmly committed to protecting the safety of merchant vessels and seafarers,” he asserted.

With PTI input