STOLT VALOR RELEASED | 18 INDIANS ON BOARD
Font Size 
Somali pirates release M V Stolt Valor; crew safe
Published on Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 09:51, Updated on Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 23:48 in World section
Tags: Stolt Valor, M V Stolf Valor , New Delhi
Related Stories
Photogallery
 |  |
New Delhi: After two months of captivity, hijacked Japanese tanker M V Stolt Valor was released by Somalian pirates early on Sunday, MD, Fleet Management, Kishore Rajvanshi said.
Stolt Valor's 22-member crew — 18 Indians, two Filipinos, one Bangladeshi and one Russian — is reported to be safe but the tanker is still in Somali waters.
“We can confirm the ship has been released. It is not out of the danger zone yet but the seafarers are well. There are no reports of any major medical problems,” National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) chairman Abdul Ghani told CNN-IBN.
"We appreciate help of the media and the government, even though the government did act a little late," Ghani added.
Ghani also thanked the Indian Navy and said, "We appreciate the efforts of the Indian Navy. Definitely it (ship) would be escorted out safely from the danger zone."
Assuring the families of the crew members, Union Shipping minister T R Baalu said the Stolt Valor will be escorted back to safety.
"The entire agony has finally been put to an end. Stolt Valor will be escorted back to safety," Baalu said.
The 25,000-tonne chemical tanker was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, off the coast of Somalia, on September 15 by Somali pirates. While the pirates had initially demanded Rs 6 crore to release the ship, it is unclear how much the pirates eventually settled for.
“A ransom has been paid but we cannot give details of the amount. This has become a big business for the pirates. They are not out of the danger zone but if they contact the Indian Navy they will be escorted out of the danger zone," Ghani said.
Ghani said the vessel was released at approximately 0730 hours IST.
Overwhelmed by the news of the release of sailors, Seema Goel, wife of Capt of the ship Prabhat Goel, said she was elated by the news and thanked everyone who extended support to her cause.
"Thank you all Indians. You have helped me reach here. I will give more information as and when it comes," Seema, who is currently in Dehradun, said.
She told PTI, "I got an official information from DG shipping that the ship has been released by the hijackers today. They will be reaching India in another four-five days."
Asked whether any ransom was paid for the release, Goyal said she had no information how the release was secured.
The release of the ship comes days after the Indian Navy repulsed pirate attacks on a Saudi and an Indian merchant vessel in the Gulf of Aden.
India has proposed a UN peace-keeping force under "a unified command'' to prevent the mounting pirate attacks off Somalia.
Gunmen from Somalia have hijacked more than 30 ships so far this year, making the strategic shipping lanes in the busy Gulf of Aden the most dangerous in the world.
| Ads by Google |
| Related Ads: | |
Read Comment | Post Comment
Now crew has been released, Indian navy must see that the pirates must be caught and the money given as
Read Comment
How much ransom was paid? Was it paid by our Govt(tax payers money) or the ship owners? Though its good
Read Comment
WeIndians are very lucky in getting respect and affections and Sorries unlike in our Country.The past issue also sees the
Read Comment
It is a great relief that 18 Indans trapped in M V Stolt Valor after 2 months of capitivity have
Read Comment
Read more comment »