Tag: pirates release vessel

MV Royal Grace (Photo Credit : EUNAVFOR)Chemical tanker 'MV Royal Grace' unexpectedly sails out of pirate's anchorage, then assisted by EUNAVFOR warship.The pirates had held the vessel after attacking it over a year earlier, on 2 March 2012 in the Gulf of Oman.Early in the morning of 8, March 2013, ESPS Mendez Nunez was conducting counter-piracy patrols 20 nautical miles off the northern Somali coast, when she sighted Royal Grace sailing north from the pirate anchorage at a speed of 4 knots. Shortly afterwards, the warship received a radio call from the master of the tankship, who confirmed that his ship was now free of pirates and that his 20-man crew were in need of food, water and medical assistance.A boarding and medical team was sent across to the Royal Grace, and after providing the crew with food and water, they were checked over, with two being given medical treatment.MV Royal Grace is currently en route to Muscat under the watchful eye of another EU Naval Force warship, ESPS Rayo.Speaking about the assistance given to the tankship, Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, who is the operation commander of the EU Naval Force said "I am relieved that the crew of MV ...

Pirates release tanker Gascogne

Hostages from MV ICeberg 1 finally arrived home after over 1000 days in captivity "It was truly like being born again. We had given up hope and suddenly we were brought back to life," one of the surviving crew members of the MV ICEBERG 1 said as he was released on his birthday, after being held hostage for over 1000 days by pirates off the coast of Somalia.After almost three years in captivity, the hostages of the ship were set free in December 2012 and the UNPOS Counter Piracy Unit arranged for the repatriation of the crew members and flew to Bossaso on 30 December to receive them.For two years and nine months the 22 surviving hostages endured terrible treatment.Part of the crew had just joined the vessel two days prior to the hijacking, not knowing they would remain there for almost three years under miserable conditions. The crew was tortured and beaten on a regular basis. At times they had to resort to drinking salt water in order to survive and they were forced to work in life threatening conditions. One crew members had his ears cut off, another lost vision in one eye due to ruthless beatings and ...

ITF tells Panama it s time to do the decent thing' for Iceberg 1 crew

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Rescued hostages of MV Iceberg 1 recount their ordeal

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