All efforts on to ensure safe release of Indians: Venkatachalam

All possible efforts would be made to ensure safe release of Indian sailors on board the two hijacked ships - M V Al Khaliq and M V Kota Wajar, Director General of Shipping Laxmi Venkatachalam said today. ''The Directorate is doing all it can for the release of Indians on these ships. We have asked the managers of the ships to keep the directorate informed about their status. We have also requested the External Affairs Ministry to take up the matter. Negotiations are on and we hope that the crisis will come to a close soon,'' Ms Venkatachalam said at a joint press conference with Nautical Adviser Captain M M Saggi, Deputy Nautical Adviser Captain J S Uppal and Captain A S Chadha.

The crew on board these ships is in good spirit, with ample food and fuel stock. The Directorate is in constant touch with Government of India regarding the issue, she said.

Replying to a query, Ms Venkatachalam said there was an alert sounded some days back. But it's too early to say whether there is any trend to target ships with Indians on board. ''We have issued advisories to ships not to move without any escort, especially by Indian Navy and if not possible by using escort provided by coalition Navies,'' she said.

Ms Venkatachalam said in comparison to 2008, the number of hijacks has decreased in 2009. There were 47 hijacks in 2008, whereas there are 19 hijacks till date in 2009. This may be because of improved capacity to deal with anti-piracy measures by shipping companies, better understanding between Merchant Navy and shipping companies. It may also be due to security cover provided by Indian Navy and Navies of other countries to deal with attacks on relative basis, she said. Capt Saggi said pirates nowadays use hijacked ships as motherships to carry out new attacks. Panamanian cargo vessel, M V Al Khaliq, carrying a crew of 26, including 24 Indians, from Novorosskysk in Russia to Mombasa in Kenya with a cargo of grain, was hijacked at around 720 nautical miles east of Mombasa on October 22, while Singaporean ship - M V Kota Wajar with four Indians on board, was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on October 15.

-- (UNI) -- 04BY9.xml

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