Cargo vessel goes missing off Somalia

The Gulf of Aden has become infamous following recurring hijacking incidents by Somalian pirates. Last year,half-a-dozen Indian cargo vessels fell in their hands.

The last message from the vessel through wireless was sent by its captain,Anwar Mohammad,45,to Ajit Sambhania in the UAE, said Salim,husband of Yasmin. Ajit is brother and agent of Salim in Dubai.

We fear a hijack by Somalian pirates, said Salaya Vessels Owners Association secretary Adam Bhaya. Through coast guard and navy,we will now try to send a message in this regard to Indian defence vessels patrolling in the Gulf of Aden.

Another cargo vessel owned by the Sambhanias,Shere-E-Madina,too was hijacked by the pirates recently.

Shere-E-Madina,which was sailing only 400 km ahead of Shehenshah-E-Madina,was hijacked,looted and released on its way in the beginning of this week. The vessel,which had to give away all its foodstock and appliances like TV it was not carrying any cargo to pirates,has now reached its destination,Shahjahan port, said Bhaya.

The owner said though he can confirm that crew members are from Salaya or nearby areas of Jamnagar,it cannot confirm their identity. For,Shehenshah-E-Maidna left for the UAE in August 2008 that and had been ferrying between UAE and Somalia since.