The Navy on Thursday pulled out its warship from escorting MV Suez, released by pirates, towards Salalah port in Oman after the Egyptian vessel, under the command of a Pakistani national, did not respond to its calls.
The Navy, which had dispatched INS Godavari to escort Suez on Wednesday, said its warship is now escorting two other merchant vessels with 21 Indians in the Gulf of Aden while the coalition forces vessels are following the merchant vessel to Salalah.
"Indian Navy has actively coordinated with all coalition force navies and other navies for providing cover to MV Suez. Navies with ships which were closest to Suez have responded to the request for assistance," the Navy said in a statement.
"On reaching MV Suez, INS Godavari made every effort through all available means and channels to communicate with Suez. However, the Master of MV Suez, didn't respond," the statement said.
"After confirming that MV Suez was safe and was being escorted by other warships of coalition forces deployed in the Gulf of Aden, the Navy Ship continued escorting two other merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, whilst at the same time monitoring its transit in coordination with other navies," it said.
The naval warship had reached the MV Suez early on Thursday morning and tried to establish contact with it but the ship, under a Pakistani captain, didn't respond to its calls.
The merchant vessel is being escorted by Pakistan Naval Ship Babur along with other ships of coalition forces present there, they said.
The Indian Navy is continuously assessing the situation and monitoring all developments, it said. MV Suez, with 22 crew members, including six Indian nationals, was released three days back by the Somali pirates after 10 months in captivity.
