New Delhi, Nov 23 : The Indian Navy has deployed the INS Savitri, an Offshore Patrol Vessel with a Chetak helicopter and marine commandos, for surveillance of exclusive economic zone of Seychelles and Mauritius from the end of November till the early part of January 2010.

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

Over the past few years, incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Aden have increased considerably. More than 174 piracy attempts, involving ships of various nationalities have taken place in the last one year in the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia. To deter, dissuade and prevent hijackings in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Navy has deployed one warship continuously in the Gulf of Aden since October 2008.

Indian Navy ships have established an enviable reputation in the area and have deterred pirates from hijacking merchant ships on numerous occasions.

As a result of the effectiveness of warship patrols and escorts in the Gulf of Aden, pirates have shifted their attention to the area East of Somalia, also referred to as the Somalia Basin and to the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Seychelles and Mauritius in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Some of these attacks have taken place nearly 1900 kms from the Somali Coast, making these waters dangerous for all sea farers, thereby seriously affecting the safety of International trade and commerce transiting through these waters. (ANI)