A Filipino seafarer and 22 other crew members
A Filipino seafarer and 22 other crew members of a Dubai-owned ship hijacked by Somali pirates in March 2010, may finally be freed in July, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) news site The National reported this week.
The National said this was the direction of negotiations for the release of the 23 surviving crew of the MV Iceberg 1, one of the ships held longest by Somali pirates.
The National quoted the Indian Embassy in UAE as saying the sailors of the ship, which was captured on March 29, 2010, could be released by mid-July.
MK Lokesh, the Indian ambassador to the UAE, told The National that “our hope is there will be a resolution by mid-July. We have requested the ship owners find an early solution.”
The ship’s crew originally numbered 24, but one of the 24 crew members died on board last year.
The crew includes sailors from Yemen, India, Ghana, Pakistan, Sudan, and the Philippines.
A father of one of the sailors told The National that he was worried about his son’s condition and that “we just want them to be free and that’s all we are working towards.”
Citing data from the International Maritime Bureau, The National said there are more than 200 sailors being held by Somali pirates, and 62 have lost their lives since 2007.
Conflicting reports
Meanwhile, a separate article on the Somalia Report said the remaining crew members are made up of eight Yemeni, six Indians, four Ghanians, two Sudanese, two Pakistanis, and one Filipino.
“On October 27, 2010, the Yemeni 3rd officer of the vessel reportedly died of malnutrition. Crew members told Somalia Report that the deceased crewman began to suffer psychological problems during his time in captivity and jumped overboard,” the report said.
The Somalia Report also said in the last two years, “there have been countless ransom demands accompanied by more high-seas drama.”
Source: GMA News
