22 Indians safe as pirates release hijacked vessel

Vessel with 22 Indians on board had gone missing in Africa

New Delhi: A merchant ship with 22 Indians on board, which had gone missing off the coast of Benin in Africa after being hijacked by pirates, has been released. “I am happy to inform that the merchant ship Marine Express with 22 Indian nationals on board has been released. We thank the governments of Nigeria and Benin for their support,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said.

A merchant ship with 22 Indians on board, which had gone missing off the coast of Benin in Africa after being hijacked by pirates, has been released. “I am happy to inform that the merchant ship Marine Express with 22 Indian nationals on board has been released. We thank the Governments of Nigeria and Benin for their help and support,” external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on

Tuesday.

According to media reports, the ship — an oil tanker carrying 13,500 tonnes of gasoline —- is owned by a shipping firm Anglo- Eastern which was quoted as saying, “We are delighted to report that the MT Marine Express, which was hijacked by pirates on February 1, is now back under the command of the captain and crew ... today. All crew members are reported to be safe and well and the

I am happy to inform that the merchant ship Marine Express with 22 Indian nationals on board has been released. We thank the governments of Nigeria and Benin... — Sushma Swaraj,

Union minister

cargo intact.” The Indian high commission in the Nigerian Capital Abuja had made frantic efforts for location of the ship. The MEA had earlier said, “A merchant vessel Marine Express, owned by Mumbai- based Anglo Eastern shipping company with 22 Indian nationals onboard, is presumably missing off the coast of Benin... Our mission in Abuja ( Nigeria) is in touch with the authorities in Benin and Nigeria for their help in locating the ship and is constantly monitoring the situation.”