Brussels: A Greek-owned freighter with a
crew of 25, including an Indian, seized by pirates in the Gulf
of Aden a week ago has arrived off Somalia, the European naval
force in the region said on Wednesday.
"EU NAVFOR can confirm that the hijacked Liberian-flagged
Eleni P has now arrived off the coast of Somalia and is
anchored in the vicinity of Garacad," a statement from
Brussels said.
The 72,000-tonne bulk carrier was reported to have been
hijacked 250 nautical miles off the coast of Oman on May 12.
It was en route to Kandla in India with a crew of 23
Filipinos, one Romanian and one Indian when it was seized,
NAVFOR said.
"EU NAVFOR will continue to monitor the situation," the
statement said.
The owners, Athens-based Eurobulk Ltd, said last week
that the crew comprised 19 Filipinos, one Romanian, one
Ukrainian and two Greeks, one of whom is the captain.
The Greek coastguard said the Eleni P was sailing from
Ukraine to China with a cargo of iron ore when the hijacking
occurred.
Somali pirates have raked in millions of dollars in
ransom money through hijackings in the Gulf of Aden.
More than 400 seamen are currently being held hostage,
the highest number since a surge in Somali piracy in 2007.
PTI
