25 Indian sailors released by Somali pirates

Sunday, January 25, 2009 at 3:01 am

Twenty five Indian sailors, held captive by Somali pirates for nearly two months, have been released. “The crew of the ship MT Biscaglia have been released. All are safe,” National Union of Seafarers of India General Secretary Abdulgani Serang told.

MT Biscaglia, a Liberian flag vessel with 31 crew onboard, was hijacked on November 28 by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. Besides 25 Indians, three Bangladeshis, two Britons and an Irish sailor were onboard the vessel.

The British and Irish sailors escaped by jumping into the sea after the pirate attack and they were later rescued. A Directorate General of Shipping official said 25 Indians and three Bangaladeshis were released Thursday night. The chemical tanker was carrying 16,282 tonnes of cargo and was travelling between Indonesia and Europe.

Biscaglia was the 97th vessel to be attacked in 2008 off the Somalian coast. The ship, operated out of Singapore by Ishima Private Ltd, is owned by Winged Foot Shipping in the Marshall Islands.

18 Indian sailors were freed on Nov 16 after two months in captivity with Somali pirates releasing their hijacked merchant ship M T Stolt in the Gulf of Aden after a ransom amount of nearly 2.5 million dollars was paid.

(With inputs from agencies)

( This post is from an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not endorsed by APakistanNews.Com.)

25 Indian sailors released by Somali pirates

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