rkjindal91
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Did MV Suez rebuff India's help
warship?
Jun 17, 2011, 01.57am IST TNN
NEW DELHI: After all the hullabaloo over why India had not promptly dispatched a warship to protect MV Suez during its passage to Salalah port in Oman, missile frigate INS Godavari did sail close to the merchant vessel on Thursday but got no response from it.
Sources said the reason for the "rebuff" could be "competitive politics" since MV Suez, owned by an Egyptian company and captained by a Pakistani national, is now being escorted by Pakistani warship PNS Babar.
The entire drama over MV Suez, which has six Indians among its 22-strong crew, began on Monday after it was released by Somali pirates following the payment of a $2.1 million ransom. Indian crew members and their families on Wednesday accused Indian Navy of not responding to their pleas for help after the merchant vessel was threatened once again by pirates.
Pakistan, in contrast, rushed PNS Babar to escort MV Suez. The government, however, said its Navy
had "actively coordinated" with other
foreign navies in the region to ensure
"cover" to MV Suez from Tuesday itself.
The only Indian warship deployed in the Gulf of Aden, INS Godavari, was at that time busy escorting two other merchant vessels, with 21 Indians on board them, through the Gulf of Aden.
On Thursday morning, INS Godavari tried to repeatedly raise MV Suez over the "mercantile marine band Channel 16" after closing in to its location but the ship's captain chose not to respond. "After confirming MV Suez was safe and being escorted by other warships, INS Godavari continued with its original task of escorting the two other vessels.
The Navy is continuously assessing the situation and monitoring all developments," said a source. India, incidentally, had earlier blamed the owners of MV Suez for ignoring the Navy's advice to provide "an armed protection detachment" as well as a tug for technical support for its vessel.
warship?
Jun 17, 2011, 01.57am IST TNN
NEW DELHI: After all the hullabaloo over why India had not promptly dispatched a warship to protect MV Suez during its passage to Salalah port in Oman, missile frigate INS Godavari did sail close to the merchant vessel on Thursday but got no response from it.
Sources said the reason for the "rebuff" could be "competitive politics" since MV Suez, owned by an Egyptian company and captained by a Pakistani national, is now being escorted by Pakistani warship PNS Babar.
The entire drama over MV Suez, which has six Indians among its 22-strong crew, began on Monday after it was released by Somali pirates following the payment of a $2.1 million ransom. Indian crew members and their families on Wednesday accused Indian Navy of not responding to their pleas for help after the merchant vessel was threatened once again by pirates.
Pakistan, in contrast, rushed PNS Babar to escort MV Suez. The government, however, said its Navy
had "actively coordinated" with other
foreign navies in the region to ensure
"cover" to MV Suez from Tuesday itself.
The only Indian warship deployed in the Gulf of Aden, INS Godavari, was at that time busy escorting two other merchant vessels, with 21 Indians on board them, through the Gulf of Aden.
On Thursday morning, INS Godavari tried to repeatedly raise MV Suez over the "mercantile marine band Channel 16" after closing in to its location but the ship's captain chose not to respond. "After confirming MV Suez was safe and being escorted by other warships, INS Godavari continued with its original task of escorting the two other vessels.
The Navy is continuously assessing the situation and monitoring all developments," said a source. India, incidentally, had earlier blamed the owners of MV Suez for ignoring the Navy's advice to provide "an armed protection detachment" as well as a tug for technical support for its vessel.
think on it...
