Crew released, Jahan Moni sails for Oman
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Our Correspondent
CHITTAGONG, Mar 14: Somali pirates have released MV Jahan Moni and all members of its crew on board this morning, ship owners said but declined to comment on payment of the ransom. "The ship and its crew were released at 10.25 am Bangladesh time today and it has left the Somali coast for Salalah Port of Oman," said Meherul Karim, managing director of the ship's operating company Rev Royal Shipping BD Ltd. Mr Karim addressed a press briefing organised by the company at its Agrabad commercial area office on the Sheikh Mujib Road in the morning. He said that the ship is expected to reach Salalah Port by March 17 where the crew will undergo health check-up, immigration and other formalities that may take another three to four days to sail for the country. After completion of all formalities the crew may reach Chittagong by air around March 22, he added. Karim informed the newsman that 13 newly-appointed crew and officials of Rev Royal Shipping will fly from Chittagong to Oman tomorrow while another team of 13 crew and company officials will fly the next day (Wednesday). A total of 33 crew members and officials will board the ship to begin homeward journey. He said that there is no shortage of fuel and water in the ship. "Currently she has six metric tonnes (MT) of fuel, 15 MT of water and 15 MT of diesel," he added. The chairman of the ship's operating company, Md Shahjahan, claimed at the press briefing that they did not pay any ransom. "The ship has been released through diplomatic efforts but I don't know whether the Bangladesh government has paid money as ransom," Shahjahan said. He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ministries of Foreign Affairs, Shipping, Environment and Forest for taking special initiatives for release of the crew and the ship. MV Jahan Moni was hijacked at gun point on December 05 last year from the Arabian Sea and was taken to the Somali coast of Garacade village on December 12. Since then 25 crew members and wife of the chief engineer were held hostage by the pirates there. The ship owners tried to contact the pirates since February 12 last and reached informal agreement with them on February 28, they said. Captain Golam Mostafa, marine superintendent of the company and relatives of the crew were present at the press conference.
CHITTAGONG, Mar 14: Somali pirates have released MV Jahan Moni and all members of its crew on board this morning, ship owners said but declined to comment on payment of the ransom. "The ship and its crew were released at 10.25 am Bangladesh time today and it has left the Somali coast for Salalah Port of Oman," said Meherul Karim, managing director of the ship's operating company Rev Royal Shipping BD Ltd. Mr Karim addressed a press briefing organised by the company at its Agrabad commercial area office on the Sheikh Mujib Road in the morning. He said that the ship is expected to reach Salalah Port by March 17 where the crew will undergo health check-up, immigration and other formalities that may take another three to four days to sail for the country. After completion of all formalities the crew may reach Chittagong by air around March 22, he added. Karim informed the newsman that 13 newly-appointed crew and officials of Rev Royal Shipping will fly from Chittagong to Oman tomorrow while another team of 13 crew and company officials will fly the next day (Wednesday). A total of 33 crew members and officials will board the ship to begin homeward journey. He said that there is no shortage of fuel and water in the ship. "Currently she has six metric tonnes (MT) of fuel, 15 MT of water and 15 MT of diesel," he added. The chairman of the ship's operating company, Md Shahjahan, claimed at the press briefing that they did not pay any ransom. "The ship has been released through diplomatic efforts but I don't know whether the Bangladesh government has paid money as ransom," Shahjahan said. He thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and ministries of Foreign Affairs, Shipping, Environment and Forest for taking special initiatives for release of the crew and the ship. MV Jahan Moni was hijacked at gun point on December 05 last year from the Arabian Sea and was taken to the Somali coast of Garacade village on December 12. Since then 25 crew members and wife of the chief engineer were held hostage by the pirates there. The ship owners tried to contact the pirates since February 12 last and reached informal agreement with them on February 28, they said. Captain Golam Mostafa, marine superintendent of the company and relatives of the crew were present at the press conference.