Goan sailor aboard hijacked ship is safe: Naik

Panaji, Feb 22 (PTI) The lone Goan sailor on board theship M V Sinin'', hijacked off Oman coast by pirates thismonth, is safe, a senior parliamentarian said today.

Rajya Sabha MP from Goa, Shantaram Naik, issued astatement here saying that Thomas Pereira, the sailor, issafe.

He said that he had taken up the matter with DirectorGeneral Shipping, New Delhi.

"I have been informed by Captain Harish Khatri, deputydirector general of shipping, that Thomas Pereira is safe.

The crew-members of the vessel have been allowed to speak totheir families," Naik said in his statement.

M V Sinin, owned by MS Irano Hind Shipping CompanyLimited of Teheran, was hijacked by pirates on February 12.

The vessel was loaded with iron ore.