Indian oil tanker missing feared hijacked, Swaraj seeks help from Nigeria
MT Marine Express
The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management. The last contact with the ship was made on February 1.
Search operations are underway for the Panama-flag merchant ship, "Marine Express" with 22 Indian crew members which went missing from Benin coast in South Africa on Thursday.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj took to Twitter to inform that she has spoken with Foreign Minister of Nigeria Geoffrey Onyeama and he assured to provide all the possible help.
"I have just spoken to Foreign Minister of Nigeria regarding missing Merchant Ship with 22 Indian nationals on board. Hon'ble Foreign Minister of Nigeria has promised all help and assistance in locating the missing ship. We have set up a Helpline no.(+234)9070343860," Swaraj tweeted.
The ship has gone missing less than a month after another vessel, "MT Barret", disappeared off the coast of Benin in January, and was later confirmed to have been hijacked. The 22 crew of "MT Barret", most of whom were Indians, were reportedly released after a ransom was paid.
The agent for the ship "Marine Express", Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern said on Twitter on Friday that “contact has been lost with the AE-managed MT Marine Express while at Cotonou, Benin. Last contact was on February 1. Authorities have been alerted and are responding.”
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The owners of the tanker, which was loaded with gas oil, have urged the Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai to get in touch with their counterparts in Nigeria and Benin to carry out search operations for the merchant ship.
The vessel, MT Marine Express is the second ship to have lost in the recent months. The Ship was owned by Hong Kong-based Anglo Eastern Ship Management.