India's navy said it freed an Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia in the latest attack on ships in the region.
India's INS Sumitra "swiftly responded" to a distress call after a fishing boat named Iman was boarded by pirates and the crew taken hostage, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
The INS Sumitra intercepted the vessel and "coerced the pirates" to release the 17 crew members and the boat safely. A representative for the navy did not give further details when contacted about the incident.
“Indian navy ship Sumitra on anti-piracy operations along the east coast of Somalia and Gulf of Aden responded to a distress message regarding the hijacking of Iranian-flagged fishing vessel Iman,” the navy said in a statement.
The boat was subsequently "sanitised" – referring to the process of searching and securing a ship – and released, the navy said.
On the same day, forces from the Seychelles navy freed a Sri Lankan vessel "hijacked by armed Somali pirates" in the Indian Ocean, President Wavel Ramkalawan's office said on Monday. It is not known whether the two attempted hijackings were connected.
The small island nation of the Seychelles has joined the US-led maritime coalition Operation Prosperity Guardian, set up to combat attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis.
India is not a member of the initiative, but its navy has responded to an increase in attempted hijacking attacks launched by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The rise in attacks comes after an alleged deal between pirates and Al Shabab, with the extremist group providing protection in exchange for a share of the ransom for captured ships.
The group not yet confirmed the agreement, but the region has experienced a resurgence in piracy attacks in recent months.
On Saturday, suspected Somali pirates boarded and hijacked the Sri Lankan fishing trawler Lorenzo Putha-4 with six crew, south-east of the Somali capital Mogadishu, the Sri Lankan navy said.
Indian navy commandos boarded the Liberia-flagged ship MV Lila Norfolk in early January after it was ambushed by pirates off the coast of Somalia. All 21 of the crew, including 15 Indian citizens, were rescued.
In December, pirates seized the Malta-flagged MV Ruen and its 18 crew.
Global shipping routes have been disrupted by tensions in the Red Sea, where Yemen's Houthi rebels have vowed to continue attacks against commercial ships that they say are retaliation for Israel's war in Gaza.
Major shipping companies have been forced to send cargo ships on a much longer route around southern Africa, driving up the costs of global shipping.
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
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About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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