Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Indian government has finally moved to try and end the hijacking of the Stolt Valor in Somali waters where 18 Indian sailors are on board.
Government is sending a high-level delegation from the National Shipping Board to Japan to talk to the owners of the ship. However, there is serious concern over the outcome when the pirates might even consider hiking the ransom amount.
The voice of the distressed sailors’ families, Seema Goyal, wife of Captain PK Goyal is much hopeful of the government's move.
The team will liaise with the Japanese company whose tanker, the Stolt Valor and its crew including Goyal's husband lie captive in Somali waters.
President of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) MK Pandhe says, "The chairman of national shipping board is going tomorrow to Japan to discuss with the shipping company.
The company is already talking to hijackers. They will be impressed upon to settle this matter as early as possible.
The government's intervention came only after exhaustive rounds of meetings between the maritime union, the Shipping Ministry and the Ministry Of External Affairs (MEA). The meetings went on late into last night.
Secretary of Shipping Ministry says, “ We've requested the help of MEA to expedite the negotiations that are being done by the Japanese owner. They are hopeful they will be finalising the negotiations shortly.
Although hopes are running high, it is not clear what more the team can do apart from some facilitation.
The government is clear that in such piracy cases, the owners of the vessel must negotiate and pay whatever ransom has been settled upon.
It is not clear if the government is now planning to go beyond stated policy. External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was evasive.
Mukherjee says, “We just discussed the overall problem of hijacking and what steps we can take.”
The government is well aware that there could be a heavy price to pay if it intervenes in the negotiations.
The pirates could well decide that the two million dollars they are now demanding for the Stolt Valor and crew is low and could well up their price.
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