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Relieved crew anchors in Muscat after hijack ordeal
After two agonising months under fearsome gun-toting Somalian pirates, the 22-member crew of the Japanese-owned MC Stolt Valor heaved a sigh of relief when their tanker anchored off Port Qaboos on Saturday.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 00:04 November 24, 2008
- Japanese-owned MV Stolt Valor, captained by Prabhat Kumar Goyal, arrived in Muscat on Saturday.
- Image Credit: Sunil Vaidya/Gulf News
Muscat: After two agonising months under fearsome gun-toting Somalian pirates, the 22-member crew of the Japanese-owned MC Stolt Valor heaved a sigh of relief when their tanker anchored off Port Qaboos on Saturday.
"It is a great relief to come to Muscat after that ordeal," Captain Prabhat Kumar Goyal told Gulf News by phone from on board the tanker that is anchored some distance from the port.
The ship is waiting for a place to berth at the port and also the ship management team wants to assess the condition of the crew as well as the vessel before they decide to bring the 25,000-tonne tanker loaded with chemicals for berthing.
Goyal, who is a native of Dehradun in north India, said his first priority would be to take a flight home and meet his family.
"I have no intention of waiting anywhere for anything and [I am] just craving to meet my family after what we endured for two months," the emotional sailor said, adding that all crew members were also looking forward to fly home.
He said the crew were in fine health and the vessel was in perfect condition.
"I am delighted to see the Muscat shore from here and am waiting to step on the land as soon as possible," he said.
The relieved captain said that the crew relaxed a lot in the last 36 hours after entering the safe waters of Oman.
"I spoke to my wife also and can't express my happiness in words."
He also said he was relieved to see his company officials and medical team on board.
MV Stolt Valor was captured by gun-wielding Somalian pirates on September 15 and was released after the company reportedly paid a ransom of $2.5 million (Dh9.17 million).
Captain Anshul Rajvanshi of Mumbai-based Ebony Shipping Company arrived in Muscat with a psychiatrist and a physician to check on the crew.
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