Finally, owners of MT Stolt Valor speak out

Friday, October 3, 2008 at 4:10 am

It’s now been over two weeks since Somalian pirates hijacked MT Stolt Valor with 18 Indian sailors onboard in the Gulf of Aden. Now finally, Ebony Ship Management, the owners of the ship have spoken out, issuing a statement to the family of the crew on board.

Captain Sanjeev Dutt from Ebony ship Management Limited has declared, “The vessel’s owner and operators are doing everything they can, to try bring this serious incident to a successful end, and to get all members of the crew back home safely. There is regular contact with the ship’s captain and he has assured us that, the entire crew is safe and well.”

In the first sign of hope for the families of the missing Indian crew on board hijacked ship MT Stolt Valor, the Prime Minister Manmohan had proclaimed on October 1 (2008), that India has sought international help to tackle the hijack drama. The Prime Minister’s assurance came, as he returned to India after a 10-day trip to the US and France. The Defence Ministry has been under pressure from the families of the 18 sailors on board the hijacked ship.

Meanwhile, Seema Goyal – wife of Prabhat Goyal, Captain of the MT Stolt Valor – is camping in Delhi, pleading with the Indian government to help rescue her husband and 17 other Indian sailors, who were abducted by Somalian pirates almost two weeks ago. Desperate familes of the 18 Indians onboard the hijacked the MT Stolt Valor, are ardently begging for the Indian government’s intervention.

“I am not happy with the efforts put in by the government. Sixteen days is a long time, the government should do more to bring the sailors back,” Seema Goyal had mentioned on arriving in New Delhi.

The Indian government’s inertia appeared to be in sharp contrast of the Russian government’s decision, to send in a warship to rescue Ukrainaian Ship ‘MV Faina’ with an all Russian crew onboard.

The Indian government is drawing criticism and anger for its inaction regarding the rescue effort for the hijacked MT Stolt Valor. No concrete attempts have so far been made to facilitate the return of the 18 Indian crew members on board the Stolt Valor, the families of hijacked crew had earlier complained.

Lashing out at the Defence Minister AK Antony, the families of the hostages have demanded that India take a leaf out of Russia’s book and get proactive. Russia has launched an offensive to rescue the sailors on board MV Fiana, and angry families of the abducted Indian sailors demand that India do the same.

( 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.)

Finally, owners of MT Stolt Valor speak out

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