Efforts Underway To Rescue Hostage Sailors

The preliminary efforts have begun to rescue the MV Abdullah, along with 23 Bangladeshi sailors, stranded in the Indian Ocean due to pirates. The ship's owner has initiated communication with a British establishment for assistance. However, direct communication with the sailors has not been possible until last night. 

Three experienced captains and engineers from the maritime sector, besides the ship's owner, have discussed the situation. They anticipate some time before the vessel's rescue due to the complexity of such incidents. The pirates are exerting pressure to negotiate their demands.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) based in London and Kuala Lumpur, which monitors maritime activities, has provided a recent trajectory of the vessel to the Merchant Marine Officers Association. According to the trajectory, the ship is heading towards the coast of Somalia and may reach there in a day or two, depending on its speed.

A media advisor from the Kabir Group, the owner of the vessel, stated that usually, pirates demand ransom after taking sailors to safe areas. However, there has been no communication with them yet. Efforts are being made to expedite the rescue of the ship along with the sailors.

On its way to Dubai with 50,000 tons of coal from Mozambique, the MV Abdullah encountered pirates around midday last Tuesday. 

According to information from the UK's Maritime Trade Operations, the vessel was located about 600 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. The ship is owned by S.R. Shipping Limited, an affiliate of the Kabir Group of Bangladesh. The vessel had joined the group's fleet three months ago.

In regions prone to piracy or conflict, ship owners usually insure their vessels separately for insurance against capture, hijack, or ransom. The insurance premiums for piracy, hijacking, and rescue are high. It is reported that the Bangladeshi vessel, like many others, was insured.

Captain Mahiuddin Abdul Kader, a representative of various international insurance companies in Bangladesh, is working on behalf of different international insurance companies in Bangladesh. He mentioned that if the ship is insured, the insurer's expert team typically engages directly with the pirates to negotiate. There are several intermediaries involved in negotiating for rescue and ransom.

The ship MV Jahangir Moni became the first ship to be hijacked in Bangladesh on December 5, 2010, and it took 100 days to free it. Despite the lengthy process, Kabir Group managed to rescue the ship and crew safely. It is currently unknown how long it may take this time, depending on negotiations with the pirates and the pressure exerted.

Meanwhile, efforts to rescue the ship with the navy's involvement have also begun, as stated by Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, State Minister of Shipping. He mentioned during a press briefing at the Secretariat yesterday that all levels of cooperation, both domestic and international, are being sought to rescue the ship and its crew safely.

The State Minister emphasized the importance of keeping the lives of the 23 sailors safe as the top priority. Efforts are being made to ensure their safety and bring them to a secure location.

With Somalia lacking a stable government, there is no control in many areas of the country. Hence, there are limited options apart from meeting the pirates' demands. Communication with the sailors has been established by the ship's owner besides the government. So far, it has been confirmed that all 23 sailors are safe on the vessel.

The ship was stocked with 25 days' worth of food for the 23 sailors, and it had around 200 tons of water.