Indian Navy personnel carrying an injured MV Heilan Star sailor for medical care. (Photo: Indian Navy)
New Delhi: The Indian Navy completed a critical medical evacuation operation from the MV Heilan Star, a Panama-flagged bulk carrier, positioned approximately 230 nautical miles (approximately 265 miles/426 kilometres) west of Goa, in the Arabian Sea. The daring operation was carried out in the early hours of Friday.
The Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Mumbai, operated by the Indian Coast Guard, alerted the Indian Navy on the night of March 20-21, 2025, that four crew members aboard the MV Heilan Star had suffered severe burn injuries requiring immediate advanced medical attention.
The Navy responded promptly, redirecting two vessels – INS Vikrant and INS Deepak – from their ongoing deployment to provide assistance.
As dawn broke on March 21, 2025, a Seaking helicopter launched from the Vikrant executed a challenging winching operation to evacuate three injured crew members – two Chinese nationals and one Indonesian national – from the MV Heilan Star. Tragically, the fourth crew member had already succumbed to their injuries. The rescued personnel were flown directly to INS Hansa in Goa, from where they were transferred to a civilian hospital for further medical treatment.
This rescue mission represents one of several international maritime emergency responses carried out in the region this year by the Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard, highlighting the importance of rapid response capabilities in saving lives at sea regardless of nationality or location.
