Several national and international organisations in the shipping sector have raised an alarm over the recent piracy incidents in the Indian Ocean and appealed to find an early solution to the organised crime.
In a statement here on Monday, the National Union of Seafarers of India said that several organisations including the International Chamber of Shipping, International Transport Federation, Intertanko, BIMCO, Indian National Shipowners' Association and Maritime Union of India have deplored the latest incidents of piracy in which some Indian crew of a released merchant ship were retained ashore in Somalia.
Some of the Indian crew of a tanker hijacked by Somali pirates last year were yet to be released even after the owners paid ransom.
The ‘Asphalt Venture", the 1991 built asphalt/bitumen tanker was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 28, 2010 and, following a ransom payment, the ship was released on April 15, 2011.
Despite the owners' negotiating for the release of the 15-member crew and the vessel, the pirates kept captive seven , including the master.