Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Maureen Mudi
3 December 2011
The Singapore-flagged oil tanker MT Gemeni that had been hijacked by pirates while heading to Mombasa from Kuala Tonjung, Malaysia, will dock at the port next week. The vessel, which was laden with 28,000 tons of palm oil, has been released after the pirates received US$ 6 million ransom to secure the release of the vessel and 21 crew members.
According to the East Africa Seafarers Programs Assistant Coordinator, Andrew Mwangura, the 21 crew members are now demanding to be paid compensation amounting to US$4 million by the South Korean government for the loss of life of their 10 colleagues. Said Mwangura, “MT Gemini is free and she is now steaming out to safe waters with less four crew members,”
According to the official, the gunmen are holding back four South Korean crew members of the vessel until the South Korean government pays them compensation. The vessel was hijacked by pirates on April 30, while under way in position 0700 south-04120 east, approximately 180 nautical miles East of Malindi. Mwangura, who is also the Somali Report Maritime Editor, added that crew members of the vessel are comprised of four South Koreans, five Chinese, thirteen Indonesians and three Myanmar nationals.
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