Somalian pirates hijack Mumbai-bound tanker; 18 Indians aboard safe

New Delhi, Sep 17 (UNI) All 18 Indians aboard the Panama-owned oil tanker 'MT Stolt Valor'that was abducted by Somalian pirates were safe, the Coast Guard officials said today.

The ship's 22-member crew, including the Indians, was safe, said the Coast Guard's Mumbai-based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre.

The vessel was being taken to Somalia, it added.

'MT Stolt Valor', bound for Mumbai from Suez, about 38 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen, was abducted by 15 Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden on September 15.

Besides Indians, there were two Filipinos, one Bangladeshi and a Russian in the crew aboard the merchant tanker, registered in Hong Kong.

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