MT Marine Express-Petrol tanker with 22 Indians still not located
MT Marine Express
Reports had earlier said that the tanker had been hijacked on January 9, however, another hijack is not ruled out yet
A Panama-flag merchant ship with 22 Indian crew members which went missing from Benin coast in South Africa on Thursday has still not been located.
The owners of tanker ship MT Marine Express, which was loaded with gas oil sought help from the directorate general of shipping in Mumbai - to conduct search operations with its counterparts in Nigeria and Benin.
Reports had earlier said that the tanker had been hijacked on January 9, however, another hijack is not ruled out yet.
Reports say that the Nigerian authorities have been alerted and search operations will be carried out to look for the missing tanker ship and report to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) Anti-Piracy Reporting Centre immediately in London if found.
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.