Somalian pirates hijack Mumbai-bound ship, crew reported safe

New Delhi, Sept 17 : The 22-member crew, including 18 Indians, of a ship abducted by Somalian pirates, is reported to be safe.

The Coast Guard PRO Commandant Kulpreet Yadav has confirmed that the Panama-owned oil tanker MT Stolt Valor was hijacked from the Gulf of Aden on Monday.

The Coast Guard's Mumbai-based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre said on Wednesday that 15 pirates had boarded the vessel, bound for Mumbai from Suez, about 38 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen.

All crew on board are reported to be safe and the vessel is being taken to Somalia.

Besides 18 Indians, there are two Philippinoes, one Bangladeshi and a Russian crew aboard the Merchant Tanker, registered in Hong Kong.

ANI