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Wednesday April 3, 2024
MV Abdullah. CREDIT: Vessel Finder
Garowe (HOL) – Negotiations for releasing the 23 crew members of the Bangladesh-flagged MV Abdullah, hijacked on March 12 by Somali pirates, are making significant headway. The ship, carrying 55,000 tonnes of coal to the United Arab Emirates, may see its crew liberated before the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, offering hope to their families.
Mizanul Islam, the media adviser for the owning Kabir Group, remains optimistic about the ongoing talks. The company and international crisis response teams are working on a resolution.
The ship’s owner has sought a peaceful resolution to recover the captive crew and the vessel. They have declined a plan by international navies and Somali security forces to storm the commercial ship, opting instead for negotiation.
The pirates have reportedly demanded $5 million for the crew’s release. The crew, surviving on limited resources and keeping in touch with their families, is managing the vessel under challenging conditions.
This incident echoes the 2010 hijacking of MV Jahan Moni, also owned by Kabir Group, underscoring ongoing safety risks in areas vulnerable to piracy. The current situation has reignited discussions on maritime security and the necessity for robust safety measures.
The Bangladeshi government and international naval forces are closely monitoring the situation, prioritizing the crew’s safety over armed interventions.
The Bangladesh-flagged vessel was captured in March during its voyage from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates and taken to Somalia. According to global maritime risk management firm Ambrey, the incident occurred approximately 600 nautical miles (1,111 km) east of Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.
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