Ship freed, Indian crew still in the custody of Somali pirates
MUMBAI: On Friday the Somali pirates have released a Panama-flagged ship after a long time but they refused to free seven out of the fifteen members of Indian crew.
The pirates had freed MT Asphalt Venture after it was hijacked 100 nautical miles southeast of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania in September last year.
Mumbai based owner of the ships OMCI Ship Management said in a statement, “Despite concluding a dialogue with the pirates for the full release of 15 crew and vessel and payment of the ransom, the vessel has been released but the Master has reported that 6 officers and 1 rating were taken off the tanker and were made to accompany the pirates.”
Reports said that the Indian members are still being held captive by pirates who want to bargain for the release of co-pirates captured by the Indian Navy. Ransom worth several million US dollars reportedly exchanged hands to secure the release of the vessel.
