Eleven sailors still held by Somali pirates

Eleven Indian sailors from two vessels are being held captive by Somali pirates, the Directorate General of Shipping said in Mumbai today.

Eleven Indian sailors from two vessels are being held captive by Somali pirates, the Directorate General of Shipping said in Mumbai on Sunday.

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Three Indian sailors on the Kenya-registered FV (fishing vessel) Victoria-4, hijacked January 7 and eight of the Panama-flagged MV Sea Princess-II, hijacked between January 2 and 3, are being held by the pirates, according to information provided by the directorate.

All other Indians on ships hijacked by the pirates last year have been released.

These include the 10 on Jordan-registered MV Victoria, which was hijacked on May 17 and released May 23; three on Iran-flagged MV Iran Deyanat, hijacked August 22 and released October 10; 18 aboard the Hong Kong-registered MV Stolt Valor, hijacked September 15 and released November 16; seven on the Hong Kong-registered MV Delight, hijacked November 18 and released January 9 and 25 on the Liberian-flagged MV Biscaglia, hijacked November 28 and released January 21.

There have been no reported deaths of any Indian sailors in captivity, the directorate said, adding it was making all efforts to contact the owners of the ships for the safe and early release of the captives.