NEW DELHI: Indian Navy has foiled a suspected piracy attack on a merchant vessel in the western Indian Ocean.“Responding swiftly to inputs of pirate activity near merchant vessel M V Mashallah 1, stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata undertook a prompt action to investigate and deter the threat,” Navy said in a statement.Officials said the warship reached the location, monitored activities of suspected pirates, and effectively deterred them through its operational presence. The investigation was conducted using the helicopter onboard INS Kolkata. During the mission, Navy also ensured safe passage for MV Mashallah 1 through the sensitive maritime zone.“This timely intervention ensured the safety of the merchant vessel and prevented a possible piracy attack,” the statement said. The incident happened around the Gulf of Aden.Following the incident, Indian Navy, as a preferred security partner and first responder in the region, said it remains committed to safeguarding merchant shipping, countering piracy and ensuring safe and secure seas.Officials said piracy-related incidents have seen a rise in recent years across parts of western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, posing serious challenges to merchant vessels. To tackle such growing threats, the Navy has deployed its frontline warships in that region to keep a check on piracy activities and maintain a constant vigil on merchant vessels.The Navy has also undertaken several joint exercises and coordinated operations with friendly foreign nations in recent years to strengthen anti-piracy mechanisms.Destroyer INS Kolkata, which thwarted the suspected piracy attack, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in Aug 2014 by PM Modi. It is equipped with an array of gunnery and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapons and is the largest warship built indigenously. The ship is fitted with medium-range and short-range guns, anti-air and surface missiles, air and surface surveillance radar, as well as bow-mounted sonar. Modern navigation and communication systems have also been installed on board the ship.