Somali pirates free 8 Indian crew, 7 still held hostage

“Despite concluding a dialogue with the pirates for full release of the 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,” said a press release issued by OMCI Ship management, managers of the ship of MV Asphalt Venture.

According to Somalia Report, a news service from the African nation, the pirates were reportedly angry at the $3.5 million ransom amount, which was lower than what they expected and were holding the remaining crew members to extract more money.
A western news agency had, however, reported that the pirates had kept the Indian sailors to demand for the release of their colleagues held by the Indian Navy.

At that time, it was assumed in the report that only the sailors kept hostage with the pirates were Indian nationals, but subsequently the ship owners made it clear that the entire 15-member crew was from India.

OMCI management clarified that the owners were unable to establish where the seven Indian sailors were taken or the reason for their continued detention. “They are currently using all resources and channels available with them to understand the reasons behind this act,” said the press release.

The tanker had been hijacked by Somali pirates Sep 28 last year, and had been moored some five miles off the town anchorage of Harardhere in central Somalia.

“All the appropriate international and Indian authorities have been alerted to the situation and all steps to try to re-establish contact with the pirates to secure the release of those still being held and now reported to be on-shore,” said the press note.
The ship owners are contacting the families of the hostages to explain the situation and assure them that all efforts are being made to secure their release.

The Indian Navy has captured 120 Somali pirates during it anti-piracy operations in the waters off the Horn of Africa. The biggest seizure was of 61 Somalia pirates last month after a mother ship, Vega 5, was apprehended.

According to latest figures, 53 Indian sailors are being held hostage on five different ships. Of them, 17 have been held the longest on MT Savina Caylyn, an Italian ship which was captured over a year ago Feb 8, 2010.