Two youths from Kerala are suspected to be among the 22 sailors held captive by Somalian pirates on board a UAE chemical oil tanker, MT Royal Grace, on March 2.
The two are Dipin Devis, 22, of Erangattu Parambil at Mapranam and Stalin Vincent, 21, of Mangalath in Thelappilly near Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur. The parents of the sailors have filed a complaint with the state administration.
“We came to know about this incident from his friends,” said Ms Shaija, mother of Dipin. “My son’s friends told me that the ship was hijacked by pirates. When contacted, the shipping company
refused to say anything,” she said.
It was Dipin’s first trip on board the ship. After completing his G.P writing course successfully, he went to Dubai on January 29, and joined the Oasis cargo and shipping company there with the help of an agent in Kochi.
“He used to call us at least once in a week” says Shaija. “His last call was on February 28, when he was leaving for Nigeria and said he would call us after 45 days. I hope my son is safe,” Shyja says.
Stalin Vincent made his last call to his parents on February 28.
News portal SomaliReport said, ‘The ship hijacked by pirates is brought to the Somali coast’. “The hijacking of MT Royal Grace brings to a total of 21 the number of ocean-going vessels being held captive by Somali pirates, and this involves the lives of 289 hostages,” the portal said.
The crew comprised Indians, Pakistanis and Nigerians. The ship was hijacked 200 NM off Oman’s southern coast, reports said.