On September 15th, “MV Stolt Valor”, a compound tanker bound for Mumbai from Suez was hijacked by 15 Somali pirates within the Gulf of Aden. Shipping market is comfortable with the incident. Among 22 crews onboard MV Stolt Valor, 18 crews are Indians, two are Filipinos, the first is Bangladeshi and something comes from Russia. Although, all hostages are apparently unhurt and safe, based on the DGS pr release on Sep 16th family people of 18 Indian crews continue to be traumatized and anxious concerning the discharge of their dear ones.
Based on a business source, the hijackers have required a ransom of USD 2.5 million and negotiations between hijackers and proprietors from the ship is happening. An announcement issued on Sep 18th through the proprietors, confirmed a scheduled appointment of the professional negotiator through the Stolt’s proprietors to talk to the hijackers to guarantee the existence and safety of the crew people and to ensure they are home as quickly as possible.
Inside a recent move ahead March seventh, the household people from the 18 crews took part in a march headed to work of Directorate General of shipping to appeal to have an urgent action for his or her release. Ms Seema Goyal, wife from the Stolt Master Capt. Prabhat Goyal required the heroic step not just to submit the Stolt issue to DGS, but additionally taken the fight towards the Central Government also.
In Mumbai protest march, family people of MV Stolt Valor crews were supported through the organizer from the march Indian seafarer’s federation (ISF), including NUSI & MUI.
Meanwhile, people from the Indian Maritime fraternity associated the household people transported out a nationwide protest march from the Govt. meant for a fast resolution and obtain back the crews in your own home in a variety of places for example Chennai, Diu, Kochi, Port Blair, Raigad, Tuticorin, Visakhapatnam, Nhava, Valsad, Kolkata and Lakshadweep.
Empathizing Ms. Goyal and family people from the 18 Indian crews, Mr. Venkatarammana, Dy general of DGS stated he would convey the content in the families towards the central and would request the Govt. to relieve the tense situation as soon as possible.
Reacting around the issue throughout the World Maritime Day celebration, Mr. APVN Sharma, Secretary of shipping emphasized on locating a lengthy term solution. Replying towards the anguish cries from the crew’s family people Mr. Sharma stated that allow us give a while for negotiations and that he assured the household people of conveying their message to Govt.
In the end individuals protests and anguish hues and cries, crews of MV Stolt Valor continue to be limited through the pirates and people are not seeing any ray of hope on government statement and activities.
Inside a recent updates in the pirates on 14th March, you are looking at realize that Somali pirates issued a deadline of 48 hrs to pay for the ransom otherwise they’ll kill all of the crews. Meanwhile India government inside a statement issued in October 14 has permitted the Indian Navy to patrol the Somali waters to make sure that the security of Indian mariners isn’t compromised. Patrolling of Indian warships in Golf of Aden near Somalia has started for that protection of Indian merchant vessel ships transiting with the area. However the fate of 18 Indian mariners of MV Stolt Valor continues to be hanging within the balance.
