[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A small size cargo vessel with 10 Indian crew members from Gujarat’s Mandvi was hijacked by pirates and taken to a somalian port.
“It is a dhow which was hijacked yesterday and has now reached Biyo in Somalia,” Director General of Shipping Malini Shankar revealed.
The 62-metre long vessel was on a voyage from dubai to the war-torn Yemen when it was hijacked by the pirates.
The Indian-flagged ship has an all-Indian crew of 10 and sailed from the historic port town of Mandvi in Gujarat, she said, adding no details of the cargo are available.
Shankar also said no ransom demand has been raised so far for the crew and it is possible that the pirates from Somalia are interested in the cargo, which may be discharged in Biyo.
Some reports speculated that the vessel might be carrying food and civil supplies to the civil war hit Yemen.
An international aid group working in such cases of piracy and hostage crisis has already been contacted by the Indian officials, she said.
There has been a meeting with officials from the Indian Navy today and an inter-ministerial group of officials from different ministries will be meeting in New Delhi tomorrow, Shankar said.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
