Concerning Bulgarian cargo ship, MV Ruen which has been reportedly hijacked by pirates and Myanmar seafarers are on board, no contact from families of victims have received yet, said an official from Myanmar Seafarers Association (MSF).
Owned by Navibulgar, a Bulgarian shipping company, the ship which departed from South Korea and sailed to its final destination Turkey, but was disconnected after took break in Singapore and was finally hijacked. There are 18 seafarers on board and according to initial report, they are from Myanmar and Bulgaria.
“We have received no contact from victims’ families yet. The ship is reportedly hijacked by pirates and Myanmar seafarers are on board. But we have received no report yet. We can’t say what are they happening because their families have yet to contact us,” said the official.
On 16 December, India navy ship, INS Kochi sent a helicopter to observe the hijacked bulk carrier and all seamen were found under arrest by pirates as hostage, and conducted constant monitor and negotiation, the Indian Navy reported.
The ship was sailed to the Somalia’s waters on 17 December and an injured seaman was evacuated for medical treatment through negotiation with pirates but the rest seafarers still remain as hostages, according to the Indian Navy’s reporting.
“Probably, families of victims themselves can’t identify who are victims. Perhaps, they may worry. When a ship hijacking happens, pirates always make negotiation with ship owner for how much they want money,” said an officer-level veteran seafarer. – Thit Taw/ZS
