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Finally, Indian Navy to patrol Somali waters
10/15/2008 7:40:47 AM
The Indian government has finally allowed the Indian Navy to patrol the Somali waters to ensure that the safety of Indian sailors is not compromised.
In a statement issued yesterday (October 14), the government said," Neighbouring powers and international agencies are working with India to free the sailors."
The move came over a month after the Somali pirates set an ultimatum of 48 hours for paying ransom for the release of the 18 Indian sailors onboard the hijacked MT Stolt Valor.
The angry families have been demanding proactive action from the government and want the Navy to patrol the Somalian gulf in order to escort the ship back and avoid clashes with the pirates, as it could prove counter productive.
Seema Goyal, wife of captain of the ship Prabhat Goyal said she do not know which door to knock andcollect the money.
"Assurances don't work. This is the time when I want help from any quarter and solve the matter," she added.
She also urged the Indian government to take more initiatives. "I have never asked the government to pay ransom. I want the government to take initiatives and pressurise the Japanese
government to get our people back home soon," she said.
The seafarers on board MT Stlot Valor have been held hostage by the pirates who hijacked the cargo ship on September 15.
The ship is owned by a Japanese company and managed by Fleet Marine Ltd in Mumbai. The hijackers had earlier demanded a ransom of USD six million for the release of the crew and have now come down to USD two million.
The Somalian pirates have seized more than two dozen ships this year off the Horn of Africa.
Apart from the Valor, pirates have seized MV Faina - a Ukrainian ship loaded with weapons. US warships have surrounded Faina to prevent pirates from unloading the weapons. NATO is also sending seven ships to the treacherous waters where the Faina is being held, and the Russian missile cruiser Intrepid is on its way to rescue the loaded Fiana.
But there is a glimmer of hope to the family of the sailors, as in the last three months Somalian pirates have freed the crew of at least three vessels which they hijacked.
Yesterday, the pirates freed a cargo ship with 11 crew members, held for five days, after losing an offensive launched by the authorities to free the ship.
Four days ago, pirates freed 20 Filipino seamen who were held for more than 80 days.
Pirates also released 29 Iranian crew members and their cargo ship hijacked off Somalia's coast in late July.
Fresh hope for MT Stolt Valor crew
Even as the Indian government is mulling over options, Russia has already gone for the kill. Russia has dispatched its deadly Intrepid class frigates to the Somalian waters in a bid to free sailors taken hostage by Somalian pirates.
The intrepid class frigates are state of the art battleships carrying an impressive arsenal, which includes a battery of surface to air missiles, torpedoes and anti aircraft guns. The ship a part of Russia's Baltic fleet has been sent to intercept MV Faina hijacked by Somali pirates off the Somalian coast.
The ship entered the Meditteranean on October 4 and is likely to swoop upon the pirates very soon.
Finally, Indian Navy to patrol Somali waters
10/15/2008 7:40:47 AM
The Indian government has finally allowed the Indian Navy to patrol the Somali waters to ensure that the safety of Indian sailors is not compromised.
In a statement issued yesterday (October 14), the government said," Neighbouring powers and international agencies are working with India to free the sailors."
The move came over a month after the Somali pirates set an ultimatum of 48 hours for paying ransom for the release of the 18 Indian sailors onboard the hijacked MT Stolt Valor.
The angry families have been demanding proactive action from the government and want the Navy to patrol the Somalian gulf in order to escort the ship back and avoid clashes with the pirates, as it could prove counter productive.
Seema Goyal, wife of captain of the ship Prabhat Goyal said she do not know which door to knock andcollect the money.
"Assurances don't work. This is the time when I want help from any quarter and solve the matter," she added.
She also urged the Indian government to take more initiatives. "I have never asked the government to pay ransom. I want the government to take initiatives and pressurise the Japanese
government to get our people back home soon," she said.
The seafarers on board MT Stlot Valor have been held hostage by the pirates who hijacked the cargo ship on September 15.
The ship is owned by a Japanese company and managed by Fleet Marine Ltd in Mumbai. The hijackers had earlier demanded a ransom of USD six million for the release of the crew and have now come down to USD two million.
The Somalian pirates have seized more than two dozen ships this year off the Horn of Africa.
Apart from the Valor, pirates have seized MV Faina - a Ukrainian ship loaded with weapons. US warships have surrounded Faina to prevent pirates from unloading the weapons. NATO is also sending seven ships to the treacherous waters where the Faina is being held, and the Russian missile cruiser Intrepid is on its way to rescue the loaded Fiana.
But there is a glimmer of hope to the family of the sailors, as in the last three months Somalian pirates have freed the crew of at least three vessels which they hijacked.
Yesterday, the pirates freed a cargo ship with 11 crew members, held for five days, after losing an offensive launched by the authorities to free the ship.
Four days ago, pirates freed 20 Filipino seamen who were held for more than 80 days.
Pirates also released 29 Iranian crew members and their cargo ship hijacked off Somalia's coast in late July.
Fresh hope for MT Stolt Valor crew
Even as the Indian government is mulling over options, Russia has already gone for the kill. Russia has dispatched its deadly Intrepid class frigates to the Somalian waters in a bid to free sailors taken hostage by Somalian pirates.
The intrepid class frigates are state of the art battleships carrying an impressive arsenal, which includes a battery of surface to air missiles, torpedoes and anti aircraft guns. The ship a part of Russia's Baltic fleet has been sent to intercept MV Faina hijacked by Somali pirates off the Somalian coast.
The ship entered the Meditteranean on October 4 and is likely to swoop upon the pirates very soon.