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Pirates contact ship owner for 'ransom'

All crew in good health


FE REPORT | March 21, 2024 00:00:00


Somali pirates contacted the owner of ship MV Abdullah on Wednesday for the first time after hijacking the coal-laden vessel on March 12.

Mizanul Islam, media adviser of the KSRM Group which owns the ship, told the media that the hijackers made the contact through a third party.

But, he declined to disclose the details and the identity of the third party.

According to maritime experts, pirates usually make a contact to initiate a negotiation for ransom.

Usually, they seek a big amount, but concede to a reduced amount after negotiations, a senior official of the foreign ministry told the FE.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Shipping Department confirmed the communication between the pirates and the owning company.

Talking to the media, he said, “All the crew members of the ship are in good health.”

Meanwhile, the International Maritime Bureau, an organisation which is working on sea piracy, has mentioned that MV Abdullah was found anchored one kilometre away off the Somali coast on Wednesday.

Since the hijack of MV Abdullah, the pirates moved the ship to different locations near the Somali coast.

They talked about the crew and the ship in general and after the communications a scope for discussion has been created, he said, adding that hopefully a solution will come.

According to him, the pirates assured that all the crew members remained safe. They will not be tortured.

A gang of Somali pirates seized control of the Bangladesh-flagged cargo vessel when it was carrying coal from Mozambique's Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE.

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