The US Department of Defense on Saturday said that a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean was hit by a drone launched from Iran.

"The motor vessel CHEM PLUTO, a Liberia-flagged, Japanese-owned, and Netherlands-operated chemical tanker was struck at approximately 10 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT) today in the Indian Ocean, 200 nautical miles from the coast of India, by a one-way attack drone fired from Iran," a Pentagon spokesperson told Reuters.

A one-way attack drone is designed to impact its target rather than return to its origin. “There were no casualties and a fire on board the tanker has been extinguished,” the defense official said.

“No US Navy vessels were in the vicinity,” the statement said, adding Naval Forces Central Command was communicating with the struck vessel.

The Pentagon statement said this was the "seventh Iranian attack on commercial shipping since 2021".

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard deployed their assets to aid MV Chem Pluto, which was carrying chemicals from Saudi Arabia’s Jubail port to New Mangalore. It was struck roughly 217 nautical miles from Porbandar around 11.30 am on Saturday, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

“The naval maritime patrol aircraft (P-8I) overflew MT Chem Pluto at 1315 h on 23 Dec 23 and established contact with the crew. The crew reported all 22 crew members to be safe and that the fire had been extinguished. The navy also communicated details of the developing situation to all Indian maritime agencies for rendering necessary assistance,” the navy statement said.

INS Mormugao established communication with a merchant ship in distress on Saturday evening to ascertain if any assistance was required, it said. Vikram, a coast guard patrol vessel, was also present at the scene and was directed to escort MV Chem Pluto to Mumbai, it said.

Meanwhile, ANI reported citing Indian Coast Guard officials, “Indian Coast Guard Ship Vikram is escorting the MV Chem Pluto and they are expected to reach off Mumbai by tomorrow. ICGS Vikram reached the distressed ship last evening itself and is moving in Indian waters at the moment."

The ship left Saudi Arabia on December 19 and was expected to arrive in India’s southwestern port city of Mangalore on December 25.

Image source: ANI