Indian Navy foils piracy attempt on merchant vessel in Gulf of Aden

NEW DELHI, July 2, 2026 — Indian Naval Ship Trikand, a mission-deployed stealth frigate operating in the Gulf of Aden, responded swiftly to a piracy attempt on MV Golden Arsenal, a St. Vincent and the Grenadines-flagged bulk carrier, on July 1.

The merchant vessel reported the attempted pirate attack approximately 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti while transiting from Aden, Yemen. The incident was reported in coordination with the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region, after which INS Trikand was directed to intercept the vessel.The merchant vessel, carrying 21 crew members including one Indian national, reported damage to the bridge superstructure and adjoining compartments.

The crew had safely taken shelter in the vessel’s citadel. On the morning of July 2, a boarding team from INS Trikand embarked MV Golden Arsenal to sanitise the vessel and assess the situation. Following a thorough search, no suspicious personnel were found onboard.

The crew subsequently exited the citadel safely and commenced an assessment of the vessel’s condition alongside Indian Navy personnel.To augment the operation, an Indian Navy P-8I Maritime Patrol Aircraft was deployed to undertake aerial surveillance and reconnaissance in the area, enhancing maritime domain awareness and supporting the anti-piracy response.

With the vessel sanitised and the immediate threat neutralised, anti-piracy operations by INS Trikand have concluded, and MV Golden Arsenal has since resumed her onward voyage.

The Indian Navy remains committed to safeguarding merchant shipping, countering piracy, and ensuring the safety and security of all seafarers in the region as part of its continued commitment to maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.