India deploys warship in Seychelles, Mauritius waters

Augmenting its anti-piracy efforts off the coast of Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, India today deployed an additional naval ship in the sea brigand-infested waters to carry out patrol and surveillance.

"The Indian Navy has deployed INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel with a Chetak helicopter and Marine Commandos, for the surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zone of Seychelles and Mauritius till early January next year," a Navy spokesperson said here.

Savitri would be deployed in close coordination with the ships and aircraft of Seychelles Coast Guard and the Mauritian National Coast Guard. "The presence of this ship will help in deterring piracy in these areas," he said.

Over the past few years, incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Aden have increased considerably. In the last one year, over 175 piracy attempts, involving ships of various nationalities, have taken place in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia coast.

To "deter, dissuade and prevent" hijackings in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy has deployed a warship continuously in the Gulf of Aden since October 23 last year, even achieving "a kill" in the highseas when one of its frigates took out the mothership of the pirates last November.