A Marshall Island-flagged, Greek-owned chemical/oil tanker with a full crew of 21 Filipino seafarers was hijacked by Somali pirates last October 31 while the vessel was approaching the Gulf of Eden on its way to Mormugao, India, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported Thursday.
The DFA said MT Liquid Velvet’s principal based in Greece has assured the local manning agency that it is taking responsibility for the matter.
The families of the crew members have been informed by the local manning agency of this incident, it said.
The DFA has instructed the Philippine embassies in Nairobi and Manama to monitor the situation and the Combined Maritime Forces, as well as the Philippine embassy in Athens, to keep track of the negotiations being undertaken by the vessel’s principal with the pirates.
Experts have warned that pirate attacks off Somalia are likely to increase now that the regional monsoon season has ended.
The pirates have made millions of dollars hijacking ships for ransom in recent years.
The International Maritime Bureau said that the pirates are holding 13 ships with 249 hostages, many of whom are Filipino seafarers.
Source: www.mb.com.ph
No comments:
Post a Comment