22nd February, 2011 LONE GOAN SAILOR ON HIJACKED SHIP IS SAFE
The lone Goa sailor Shri Thomas Pereira on board the ship M.V.SININ which was hijacked on 12th February at about 13:00 GMT off the Coast of Oman along with 22 crew members, including nine Indians, is safe, according to a communication received by Shri Shantaram Naik M.P..
Mr Naik who has been in touch with Director General Of Shipping’s Office, Mumbai since 17th February, regarding the fate of sailor Shri Pereira and other Indians, received, today a communication through fax from Captain Harish Khatri, Deputy Director General of Shipping that, as per the information received on 21st February, 2011, the crew of the vessel have been allowed to speak to their families and are reported to be safe.
Mr Naik who is presently in New Delhi, contacted the wife of the sailor in Margao to confirm whether she had received a call from her husband and found, that in fact, she received a call to inform her that he was fine.
Mr Naik said that he also met today Shri G.K. Vasan, Union Minister of Shipping, who assured him that he Directorate General of Shipping is monitoring the situation through Indian Navy and the owners of the Company.
Mr Naik said that D.G.Shipping, Mumbai got the information that the vessel owned by M/S Irano Hind Shipping Company Ltd., of Teheran, Iran,lost control with their vessel since 12th February. The vessel was en route from Fujaira to Singapore loaded with approximately 52000 metric tones of iron ore.
SHANTARAM NAIK
