11 Indians rescued after being released by Somalian pirates

New Delhi (PTI) - 26 people including 11 Indians
on-board a sinking merchant vessel were rescued by the Indian
Navy with the help of an Italian warship after they were
released by Somali pirates following payment of ransom.
After being in captivity in Somalia since April last
year, MV RAK Africana, a ship owned by Captain Ajay Kotwal,
could not sail out of Somali coast on March 9 because of
engine problems, Indian navy officials said here.
The ship had sought help from Director General of
Shipping which in turn requested the Navy for rendering
assistance to Africana's crew.
"Recognising the condition of the crew, the Indian
Navy launched an all out effort to co ordinate rescue of the
crew. But, in the meanwhile information was received that the
ship had started taking in water due to a hole in the hull,"
they said.
An alert was immediately sounded by Indian Navy to all
other navies operating in the vicinity who were requested to
render immediate assistance to MV RAK Africana.
"Contact was established with the UK Maritime Trade
Organisation in Dubai, Combined Maritime Forces HQ in Bahrain,
EUNAVFOR HQ in London and the distress situation on MV RAK
Africana was intimated," they said.
Responding to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) alert
by the Navy, an Italian warship Zeffiro arrived at the scene
and coordinated the action to rescue the crew of RAK Africana
commencing 2000 hours on March 9.
Following advise from the Indian Navy, Africana's crew
disembarked from it using lifeboats and were recovered by
Zeffiro.
The crew of the Africana included 11 Indian sailors
along with six Pakistanis and eight Tanzanian nationals.