After the release of MT Stolt Valor, which was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden with 18 Indian sailors, the agency recruiting crew members for the vessel has demanded deployment of UN coalition forces on the sea route to prevent such incidents.
The Ebony Ship Management (ESM), which is in
charge of crew management for the Central Marine Company, the Japan-based company owning MT Stolt Valor, has said India should take up the matter with other affected countries and ask for deployment of such forces to ensure safe passage of ships.
"Such cases of piracy are on rise. Countries being affected by this criminal act need to put all efforts for having UN coalition forces on the Gulf of Aden," Prashant Rangnekar, MD of ESM, told PTI from Mumbai.
Eighteen Indian sailors were yesterday freed after two months in captivity as the Somali pirates released the hijacked merchant ship after a ransom amount of up to 2.5 million dollars was paid.
Rangnekar said that the Indian government has deployed Navy in the Gulf of Aden to protect ships from pirates.
"This is of course a good sign. But more needs to be done by the government to increase the presence of forces there," he said.
The agency, which was in touch with the family members of sailors, had hired professional counsellors to provide counselling to the family members.
"But the release brought much relief to the family members. The sailors will be reaching Mumbai in another one week time," he said.
MT Stolt Valor was hijacked on September 15 when it was transiting the Gulf of Aden, bound for Mumbai.
The vessel was in the Designated Safety Corridor in accordance with the recommendations that were issued by the International Coalition of warships entrusted with the task of safeguarding vessels in the Gulf of Aden against pirate attacks, Rangnekar said.
He the Central Marine Company had hired professional negotiators for ensuring safe return of the crew.