Posted: Updated – 09:20 AM, Monday – Nov 7
Trivandrum: A Norwegian oil tanker was detained by Equatorial Guinea and its 26 sailors, including three Keralas, were also detained.
They were detained on suspicion of crude oil piracy, according to sailors who have contacted the family.
The Norwegian ship Heroic Idun, which arrived at the AKPO terminal in Nigeria to refuel with crude oil on August 8, was intercepted and detained by a Guinean warship when it set sail.
According to reports from the ship, the Norwegian owner even offered a ransom of $200,000, but the Guinean Navy disagreed.
One of the crew from Kerala was Navigator Vijith of Sasthamkotta from Kollam. Speaking to media sources on the ship, he said they were concerned that the ship had been handed over to Nigerian authorities, who suspected Nigerians were holding it.
“A Nigerian navy ship broke down near our ship and we don’t know what will happen. We hope the Indian government will intervene and save us,” he said.
On Sunday, global ship tracking sites found the Norwegian ship still in the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa.
According to shipping industry sources, oil piracy is rampant in the Gulf of Guinea.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister V. Muraleedharan told media sources in Thiruvananthapuram that the Indian government would bring back Indian sailors detained in Guinea. He also said ministry officials had contacted government officials there to prevent the sailors from being handed over to the Nigerian Navy.
