New Delhi, Jan 7 (PTI) The Indian Navy on Tuesday provided urgently needed fuel to a Malaysian-flagged sailing vessel with five Chinese nationals onboard in the Indian Ocean.

Indian naval ship INS Kirch provided 1,000 litres of fuel to the vessel, enabling it to safely resume its voyage to its next port of call, the Indian Navy said.

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It said the Malaysian-flagged vessel with five Chinese nationals was reported to be running low on fuel on January 4.

Subsequently, the sailing vessel transiting 225 nautical miles west of Indira Point, sought fuelling assistance from Indian Navy through Indian Navy's Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR).

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"Responding swiftly, a surveillance aircraft was deployed to monitor the movement of sailing vessel and diverted mission deployed Indian Naval Ship Kirch to provide assistance," the Navy said.

"INS Kirch on January 7 intercepted the vessel and provided 1000 litres of fuel, enabling the vessel to safely resume its voyage to its next port of call," the Navy said in a statement.

"The Indian Navy remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure safety of all mariners in the Indian Ocean Region," it said.

Indira Point is the southernmost point of India in the eastern Indian Sea.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)