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Pirates capture Iranian ship off Kandla port

Fourteen armed stowaways captured an Iranian ship in the Arabian Sea Friday night, while it was on its way to the western Indian port of Kandla.

The ship named, 'Merchant Vessel Med-star,' was taken control of by the stowaways soon after the crew found them aboard.

The ship began its journey from Bandar-Abbas, Iran, on June 8.

The crew tried to return the vessel towards Iran, but the stowaways forced them to continue sailing towards the Kandla port.

The master of the ship, owned by Al-Cov Shipping Company, sent a distress message last night to the Kandla port authorities. But radio contact could not be made between the two thereafter.

According to the police in Bhuj, the ship now is at a distance of about 400 km from the Kandla port, where it was earlier scheduled to reach Saturday night or Sunday morning.

The Indian Navy and the Coast Guard have been alerted.

UNI

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