India’s INS Vishakapatnam Responds to Mayday Call from Ship with 22 Indian Crew Members That Was Struck by a Houthi Missile
The Indian Navy has swiftly come to the aid of the Marlin Luanda, a British petroleum tanker that sent out a distress call after being hit by a Houthi missile in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, carrying a cargo of Russian refined oil product, burst into flames following the strike. The INS Visakhapatnam, which was deployed in the area, has rushed to help combat the massive blaze aboard the tanker.
The Marlin Luanda stretches 250 meters in length and is manned by 22 Indian sailors and one Bangladeshi crew member. Since the attack occurred late last night, the crew has been battling the raging fire without sustaining any injuries.
The firefighting efforts onboard the distressed merchant vessel are being augmented by the team along with firefighting equipment deployed by the INS Visakhapatnam, said an Indian Navy spokesperson. This incident marks the largest blaze resulting from the more than 30 attacks carried out by Iran-backed Houthis over the past three months in the Red Sea region.
The Marshall Islands-flagged Marlin Luanda is transporting Russian naphtha cargo to Singapore. The attack has come as a surprise due to an alleged understanding brokered by Iran, guaranteeing that Houthis would refrain from targeting Russian ships and cargoes, given the perceived alliance between Iran and Russia.
However, in this particular case, the Marlin Luanda is operating on behalf of Singapore-based trading giant Trafigura, while being registered under London-based company Oceonix Services. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, referring to the vessel as a British oil ship. In response to Houthi aggressions, the UK and the US have launched strikes against them, aiming to protect commercial shipping in the crucial Suez Canal transit.
Despite the ongoing attacks, Russian and Saudi ships continue to utilize the Suez Canal, presumably under an unwritten agreement that shields them from Houthi attacks. The Houthis have stated that their intent is to target commercial vessels traversing the Red Sea, a vital shipping lane, to provide support to Palestinians in Gaza, where clashes with Hamas persist.
Oil tankers are still transiting the Red Sea, especially those carrying Russian-origin cargoes. Until now, the Russians were the only suppliers that had effectively kept their Suez Canal/Red Sea transit unchanged. Now this might alter their strategies, explained Viktor Katona, lead crude analyst at Kpler, a global trade intelligence firm.
Should the Russians decide to halt their use of the Suez Canal, it could lead to an increase in the cost of Russian crude oil, which is heavily purchased by Indian companies such as IndianOil and Reliance. Approximately 50-55 ships carrying Russian crude pass through the Suez Canal monthly. Additionally, Russian vessels transporting coal and sunflower oil to India rely on the Suez Canal for transit.
To avoid being targeted, numerous commercial vessels have started taking longer routes around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, avoiding the troubled region.
Another ship transporting Russian Urals grade crude to India narrowly escaped Houthi missile fire last night when a projectile exploded nearby.
INS Vishakapatnam previously assisted the MV Genco Picardy after it was hit by a drone on January 18. The Genco Picardy, carrying a crew of 22 individuals including nine Indians, sustained minor damage in that incident.
In summary, the Indian Navy has rushed to aid the Marlin Luanda, which was struck by a Houthi missile, causing the vessel to catch fire. The INS Vishakapatnam is providing assistance to combat the blaze on the tanker, which carries Russian fuel. This attack marks a significant incident amidst ongoing Houthi aggression in the Red Sea region, potentially impacting the strategies of Russian crude suppliers and prompting commercial vessels to seek alternative routes.
