Hostages safe in Fujairah

The crew of a chemical tanker freed by Somalian pirates after the reported payment of a ransom step ashore in the emirate.

The crew of sea vessel MT Irene and hostages who were released by Somalian pirates last week arrive in a tug boat at Port Fujairah on Oct 14.

FUJAIRAH // Nineteen sailors freed by pirates after the reported payment of a ransom of US$1.6 million (Dh5.9m) stepped ashore yesterday, ending an ordeal that began when their ship was captured at gunpoint off Somalia on Aug 21. The MT Irene, a Japanese-operated chemical tanker, dropped anchor off Fujairah at 6pm on Monday and yesterday afternoon the crew of 15 Filipinos and four Croatians were ferried ashore by a tugboat. They were taken by van to the immigration office. "They were in high spirits and looked well," said Edwin Mendoza, vice consul at the Philippines' consulate in Dubai. He boarded the ship early yesterday morning to check on the men's welfare and to see if they needed help with documents. "All of them have passports," he said. "They went through immigration formalities upon their arrival." Benito Valeriano, the Philippines' consul general in Dubai, said that because the crew had been held off the African coast, they would be quarantined before flying home. Claro Cristobal, a spokesman for the Philippines' department of foreign affairs, said the men would leave from Dubai International Airport and were expected to arrive in Manila tomorrow afternoon. A spokesman for the Seafarers Union of Croatia said the Croatian crew members were well and expected to be sent home by the Japanese shipping company that operates the Irene. A replacement crew of 13 Filipinos is believed to have sailed the Irene on to Oman. Out of concern for the safety of sailors still being held by Somalian pirates, details of the released crew's experience were not disclosed. The released sailors expressed concern for countrymen from other ships still held by pirates. "We are all extremely pleased to have been released," a spokesman for the crew said. "We are grateful to those who helped to reunite us with our families. "As there are a number of other crew held in similar circumstances off the coast of Somalia, it would be inappropriate to comment further. We would ask you all to respect our privacy and allow us some time to adjust to normal life." Twenty Filipino seamen who had been held captive on MV Stella Maris were freed last Thursday, followed the next day by two Filipinos and 27 other crew members from the Iranian bulk carrier MV Iran Deyanat. The Philippines said 45 Filipino seamen remain captive on three vessels: the MT Stolt Valor, a Hong Kong chemical tanker with two Filipinos and 31 other nationals on board, seized on Sept 15; the MV Centauri, a Greek tanker with a 26-man all-Filipino crew, seized on Sept 17; and the MV Capt Stefanos, another Greek ship, with 17 Filipinos, seized on Sept 21. Because of the danger posed by Somali pirates to Filipino seafarers, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration's governing board has passed a resolution declaring the Gulf of Aden a high-risk zone. All Filipino sailors whose ships pass through the area will receive double pay. The resolution, drafted in consultation with shipowners and manning agencies, is retroactive and covers those who are still held by pirates. Crews from other nations are also being held captive, including the 21 Russian and Ukrainian sailors on the MV Faina, seized on Sept 25. It carried a consignment of tanks and other weapons. The Faina remains surrounded by US Navy warships awaiting the arrival of a Russian guided-missile frigate. Yesterday Somalia reported that its security forces freed a Panamanian ship and its crew of nine Syrians and two Somalis, two days after one of the pirates was killed in a shoot-out in which a Somalian soldier also died. The Wail, which had been carrying a cargo of cement from Oman to Bosasso in Somalia, was seized on Thursday. "We have succeeded in saving the Panama-flagged ship and its crew," said Ali Abdi Aware, state minister for the northern Puntland region, Reuters reported yesterday. "The pirates have surrendered and the ship is in our hands now." [e-mail]