What Crew Members Say About Golden-Arsenal

On the night of July 1, 2026, the Indian Navy's frigate INS 'Trikand', accompanied by elite MARCOS commandos, successfully thwarted a piracy attempt against the bulk carrier 'Golden Arsenal' in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, en route from Aden, Yemen, to Tuticorin, was carrying essential cargo for India when it encountered trouble roughly 300 nautical miles east-northeast of Djibouti. A skiff, manned by four armed pirates wielding RPGs, managed to board the ship after it came to a halt. Quick-thinking crew members activated their emergency protocols, locking themselves inside the citadel while alerting authorities via their communication systems. Despite attempts by the pirates to infiltrate, the crew remained secure. After the incident, the crew emerged to assess the situation and found that the would-be hijackers had fled, though boarding ladders were still visible on the ship's hull. Fearing further danger, they re-entered the citadel until help could arrive. MARCOS commandos executed a swift operation, boarding the vessel to conduct thorough searches ensuring everything was safe before allowing 'Golden Arsenal' to continue its journey. Fortunately, all 21 crew members, including one Indian national, were reported safe, although the vessel had suffered damage to its bridge superstructure and nearby compartments. In a related incident, a skiff with heavily armed individuals was spotted chasing a second merchant ship shortly after the attack, suggesting the same group of pirates was still active. Thankfully, this vessel managed to evade capture, but authorities remain vigilant, suspecting that the pirates are still on the hunt for potential victims. Notably, INS 'Trikand' had previously responded to a distress signal on June 19, 2026, regarding a potential piracy attempt involving the 'Fareeda 5' (IMO: 1065863) in the Western Indian Ocean, showcasing the ongoing commitment of the Indian Navy to ensure maritime security.

In a daring midnight raid on August 11, 2018, a group of 10 to 12 robbers approached the bulk carrier 'Stargate' while it was anchored approximately 2.75 nautical miles off Sagar Light, Sagar Island, India. The incident unfolded at around 02:25 a.m. in coordinates 21 41 25.2N, 88 01 09.0E. As the assailants executed their plan, two of them managed to board the vessel. However, their operation was thwarted when a vigilant patrol sentry observed the robbers transferring bundles of rope into their boat and promptly alerted the crew on board. Realizing their time was running out, the intruders fled the scene with their pilfered goods. The ship's Master swiftly notified the local agent and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) about the security breach. Responding quickly, the ICG deployed a Coast Guard vessel to the area to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.