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No breakthrough in vessel hijack; ransom comes down to $150,000

DUBAI — No breakthrough was in sight on release of the crew of the hijacked UAE flagged ‘MV Veesham I’ even as pirates who captured the vessel on November 1 off the Somali port of El Maan remained in control of the ship.

The vessel was hijacked off the coastal waters of Somalia while it was heading with the cargoload of charcoal to Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

Ajay Kumar Bhatia, Managing Director of Dubai-based Veesham Shipping Incorporation, owner of the vessel, said “no breakthrough has been achieved yet in securing the release of the crew members or settlement of the ransom amount.”

“The pirates had initially demanded a ransom of $1 million and later came down to $150,000. But, as of yesterday, there is no mention of any demand on the ransom amount,” said Bhatia, who is in constant touch with his crew and the captain of the vessel through Somali business community members and the Somali authorities.

Bhatia disclosed that the pirates on board the vessel belonged to Wsleh tribe from Mogadishu. “They know that they are trapped and cannot get anything because of the new Islamic Movement government in Somalia negotiating with them on the release. They are afraid of handing themselves over to the Islamic movement for the fear of being sentenced to death on arrest.”

“I have spoken to the Wsleh tribal chief Abdul Qadir Aloah who is also one of the leading Somali businessmen in Dubai. But at present Aloah is in Italy and we have been in touch with him negotiating the release of the ship and the crew members,” Bhatia pointed out.

He said Aloah had assured him of the release of the vessel soon. “We hope the ship is released by the hijackers soon. Apart from threat to the lives of the crew members, the company is facing a daily loss of $3,000 in addition to other expenses incurred. ”

Bhatia assured that all the crew on board the vessel are safe and face no harm from the hijackers. There is also enough supply of food and other provision which can last for another one month, he said.