Panamanian flagged merchant vessel Saronic Breeze was hijacked last week, November 29th, 70 nautical miles off Cotonou, Benin. Pirates left the vessel taking three Russian crew members with them as hostages. However, Russia’s embassy in Benin has no information on the three Russian sailors seized by pirates.
“At the moment, we don’t have any information about them. We have been in close contact with Benin’s competent authorities and we have been maintaining contacts with the crew members as well.” a source in the embassy was quoted as saying.
“Last night we were able to go on board the vessel and talk to the crew members,” the diplomats said.
According to the chief officer, there are currently 17 people on board including 15 Russians and two Ukrainians. The crew confirmed that pirates had taken three hostages: the captain, the second engineer and the cook.
The crew members’ condition is satisfactory on the whole, there are enough food supplies on board, the crew is waiting for instructions from the vessel’s owner at the moment, according to the source.
