MV Ablida freed after a $2.6 milion
An Algerian ship released after it was hijacked by pirates in January docked in Malindi after developing mechanical problems. Stricken MV Ablida freed after a $2.6 milion (about Sh225 million) was handed over the criminals was from Salala port in Omani to Mombasa when the mechanical hitch happened.
The crew members on board had to be substituted with others forcing government authorities to process emergency passes for the crew members leaving and those who were checking out of the ship as they did not have as any documents allowing to be in the country.
Majority of the crew members in the ship were from Ukraine while others were from Indonesia, Philippines Algeria Pakistan and Iran. Security was beefed up at the Malindi jetty as plans to inspect the ship and the crew were put in place yesterday evening.
Embassy officials from the countries represented had to drive to Mombasa urgently to sort out with Kenyan authorities the clearance of the crew members to enable them travel by air after staying in the ocean for nearly a year.
Andrew Mwangura from the seafarers association told journalists at the jetty that the ship belonging to Algerian government was carrying 27,000 tonnes of chinka, a cement-like susbatnce when it was hijacked. “The ship was sailing to Mombasa and was expected two days ago but it developed mechanical problems forcing the crew members to seek permission to dock in Malindi,”he said.
Those on board, he said were, 19 crew members among them 10 Pakistanis, three Iranians and other crew members from another ship whose identities had not been identified as their ship was allegedly sank by pirates. He said the crew members had been under harsh circumstances in the sea following shortage of food, water and communication problems with constant mechanical problems which prompted their authorities to substitute them. They travelled home by air.
Officials from the Expres shiipping agency who were expecting the ship also came to Malindi to combine efforts of seeking authority to have it go to Mombasa. They said the cargo was expected to be taken to Daresalaam when the pirates attacked and held them for the 11 months in the deep sea adding that it had an escort of security personnel from Kenya.
Malindi District Officer one Joseph Chepkoni , Divisional police chief Wellington Choka and District Criminal Investigations officer Kulova Kavete , immigration, customs, public health were at the scene to over see the legal procedures.
Chepkoni said they had dispatched a team of security officers to inspect the ship with a vii to detect any deadly weapons and public health officer to inspect it. “The ship has no fuel we have dispatched officers to implement the legal processes and search it then the crew will have to be checked by immigration while the cargo will be inspected by the Customs department to ensure it has authority,” he said.
By yesterday evening the crew members who would take over the ship were processing their travel documents while those in the vessel would undergo interrogation and thorough screening. Security personnel are on high alert since the war against Al shabaab began as there ae fears that the Al shabaab members could attack the country anytime.
Source: All Africa News