Somali pirates release hijacked Indian vessel

GANDHINAGAR - Somali pirates have released Sea King, the fifth of the eight Gujarat registered cargo vessels hijacked by them last month, a shipping association official said Saturday.

Ashok Bhanushali, secretary of the Kutchi Vahanvatta association, said that the vessel, which was hijacked on its way to Dubai from Somalia about 12 days ago, was released late Friday night. The vessel’s 12 member crew was reported to be safe, he added.

MSV Krishnajyot, seized March 28, was the first to be released last Saturday, while Safina Al Gayatri was released Sunday.

The third, Faiz-e-Usmani was rescued in a joint American-Omani Navy operation Monday. Of its eight member crew, one is reported to have lost his life when he panicked and jumped into the sea after the naval operation began.

Nar-narayan, the fourth, was released Wednesday near Mogadishu after it ran out of fuel. The 15 member crew of the vessel was safe and is still in Mogadishu.

Bhanushali expressed hope that the remaining three vessels would also be released soon.

“Intermediaries are being used to reach out to the authorities in Somalia by the Dubai based traders and cargo vessel owners,” he added.