Indian Navy has already deployed its ship INS Sunayna for various parts of Oman and Socotra islands

[Hindustani78]

New Delhi, June 02, 2018 22:01 IST
Updated: June 02, 2018 22:02 IST
http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...ded-indians/article24069098.ece?homepage=true

The Indian Navy has already deployed its ship INS Sunayna for various parts of Oman and Socotra island as part of the ‘Operation Nistar’

A Navy spokesperson said INS Sunayna, which was deployed in Western Arabian Sea, is now heading towards Socotra for (HADR) operation.

INS Nistar was a submarine rescue vessel of the Indian Navy, was commissioned by the Indian Navy in 1971, Nistar was used in December during Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 to locate Pakistan Navy submarine PNS Ghazi, which sank off the port of Vizag.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
03-June, 2018 17:03 IST
OP Nistar – Evacuation of Stranded Indians from Socotra, Yemen

In response to a distress call received from the DG shipping and the Indian Sailing Vessels Association, Indian Naval Ship Sunayna, currently deployed for a mission based deployment in the Gulf of Aden, was directed to evacuate 38 Indian nationals stranded on the Yemeni island of Socotra in the aftermath of cyclone Mekenu.

A very Severe Cyclonic Strom Mekenu crossed the Yemeni Island of Socotra on 24 May 18, leaving the 38 Indians stranded on the island with limited food and water.

Also, three Indian dhows at Socotra suffered damages/ sank alongside in the harbour and another Dhow, MSV Safina Al Khijar with 12 Indians onboard is reported to be missing.

Based on this information, the Indian Navy undertook two aerial sorties on 27 and 28 May 18 to search for the missing 18 Indians. INS Sunayna, deployed on a mission based deployment in the Gulf of Aden was pressed into action to evacuate the 38 Indian nationals from Socotra. The operation, code name 'NISTAR', was carried out on the morning of 03 Jun 18 off the coast of Socotra. The evacuated Indians were embarked onboard and immediately provided with medical care, food, water and telephone facilities to call and reassure their families at home. All 38 have been reported to be safe. Post evacuation, the ship would be proceeding towards Porbandar to disembark the Indians ashore


INS Sunayna was deployed for the humanitarian and disaster relief operation after the Navy received a distress call from the Directorate General of Shipping and the Indian Sailing Vessels Association.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Defence
29-August, 2018 12:51 IST
INS Teg Lends Assistance to MV Vela in the Gulf of Aden

On 25 Aug 18, whilst patrolling in the piracy infested waters of Gulf of Aden, INS Teg, a warship of the Western Naval Command, received a call from a Combined Task Force aircraft for providing assistance to MV Vela, a Norwegian owned ship with an all Indian crew. The vessel was in distress as her Port Anchor along with the entire 330 mtrs cable weighing approx 42 tons had inadvertently slipped and was hanging into the sea. This had severely disabled the ship with her speed being restricted to 5-6 knots, thus making her vulnerable to piracy attacks, apart from being a navigational hazard for herself as well as for other ships in the dense shipping corridor.

INS Teg quickly dispatched a specialist team to carry out an assessment of the situation and provided assistance for recovery of the anchor and cable. The team was lead by the ship’s Engineering Officer and comprised the other specialist officers, Seamanship Instructor, Anchor Chain Cable Specialist and Machinery Specialist.

Concerted efforts over three days finally resulted in the successful recovery of the anchor alongwith the entire 330 m of cable. This evolution not only ensured onward safe voyage of MV Vela, which had to subsequently transit through the constricted waters of Red Sea and Suez Canal, but also averted huge financial loss.

MV Vela and the Combined Task Force were quick to express their gratitude to the ship and the Indian Navy via emails:

Mails received from various agencies:

MV VELA

“Your concern and commitment for safety of life at sea is well noted and your efforts in reaching out to fellow mariners in emergency at sea, keeping aside committed voyage is conforming to the best maritime traditions; worth emulating by other mariners. I hereby convey my sincere appreciation for your concern at sea and in GoA area, and efforts to provide assistance. I am very sure that under your able command and with such energetic crew, MV Vela salute to the Indian Navy”

“Kindly note vessel MV Vela thanking you sincerely on behalf of our owners SEVEN SEA SA, NORWAY and Fleet Management Limited, Hong Kong.

I hereby convey my sincere appreciation for your concern at and efforts to provide assistance by your Commanding Officer and staff for retrieving the anchor on 28 Aug 18. MV Vela salute to the Indian Navy.”


COMBINED TASK FORCE (CTF 151)

“Our thanks to the INS TEG crew for the proactiveness in responding to the MV Vela situation.”


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