21 Indians taken hostage off Oman coast

Mumbai, Aug 20: An oil tanker with 21 Indian crew members on board was hijacked today off the coast of Oman, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said here.

The DGS did not say who were the hijackers. The vessel MV Fairchem Bogey was hijacked while it was at the Salalah anchorage, a statement issued here by the DGS said.

Though the Marshall Island-flagged vessel usually carries oil or chemicals, the DGS did not offer any detail about the cargo.

The statement said the vessel was managed by Anglo-Eastern Ship Management (I), Mumbai and the Directorate had informed the Indian Navy, the British Maritime Organisation and other concerned agencies.

In the past one year, the Gulf of Aden, which is close to the port of Salalah, has been witnessing repeated hijacking of ships by Somali pirates.

PTI