[size=75:xxfdun39]novinite 29 December 2009

5 Bulgarian Sailors Kidnapped by Somali Pirates on UK Tanker

Five Bulgarian sailors are part of the crew of a UK tanker hijacked Monday by Somali pirates.

The tanker St. James Park carrying chemicals from Spain to Thailand was kidnapped in the Gulf of Aden, and diverted to the Somali coast.

The crew includes 26 sailors from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, the Philippines, Poland, India, and Turkey.

The five Bulgarians were hired by the Varna-based firm Zodiac. According to its Director, Prodan Radanov, four of them are from Varna, and it is still unknown where the fifth man is from.

In his words, the contact with the kidnappers will probably be established in 48 hours. The captain of the UK tanker is Russian. The senior deputy captain is Bulgarian.

[size=75:3vtcn6ip]novinite 30 December 2009

Update

John Harbour, the spokesman for the European Union's anti-piracy force, has stated that the negotiations for the release of the hijacked UK chemical tanker, with 5 Bulgarians on board, will be difficult.

Harbour also said that the seizures of two ships by the Somali pirates on Monday were likely only a coincidence and not coordinated because several pirate bands operate in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.

There was no report about any injuries and casualties so far on the two ships, an officer of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) said on Wednesday. They added that the ships and crews had not yet been contacted. The St. James Park tanker was last night said to be heading toward the northern coast of Somalia.

The IMB added that the St. James Park had chosen "
to act independently and unfortunately there was no naval ship close enough to offer assistance in time."


Meanwhile, Ecoterra International, a group that monitors shipping off Somalia, said that at least 12 foreign vessels and 263 seafarers were currently being held by the pirates close to the Horn of Africa.

On Tuesday it was reported that five Bulgarian sailors are part of the crew of a UK tanker. The crew includes 26 sailors from Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, the Philippines, Poland, India, and Turkey.

The five Bulgarians were hired by the Varna-based firm Zodiac. According to its Director, Prodan Radanov, four of them are from Varna, and it is still unknown where the fifth man is from.

[size=75:3ecyue0g]novinite 2 January 2010

New Ship with Bulgarian Sailors Hijacked by Somali Pirates

Another ship manned by Bulgarian sailors has been hijacked by Somali pirates.

The incident happened late Friday night;
it comes days after a UK tanker with its crew including 5 Bulgarian sailors was taken over by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

In the new case, Somali pirate have hijacked a large ship transporting cars called Asian Glory, with a crew of 25 including 8 Bulgarians.

This has been announced by Captain Prodan Radanov from the Varna office of the Zodiac firm. The Bulgarians are from Varna, Shumen, Yambol, and Velingrad. None of them were hurt during the kidnapping.

The British tanker St. James Park kidnapped on December 29 is anchored off the Somali coast.

[size=75:2hm1uzen]novinite 02 January 2010

Bulgarian Govt: No Contact with Somali Pirates over Newly Hijacked Ship

The Bulgarian government has still not managed to establish any contact with the Somali pirates who hijacked the Asian Glory ship with a 25-member crew including 8 Bulgarian sailors.

This has been announced Saturday afternoon by Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raykov.

However, Raykov has pointed out that the case is similar to any other instance in which Somali pirates hijack international vessels – the ship will be have to reach the Somali coast where it will be anchored, and only then the hijackers will initiate talks for the release.

Earlier on Saturday, Spokesperson of Bulgarian Foreign Minister Dragovest Goranov stressed the fact that the UK flagged ship Asian Glory has been kidnapped at an untypical distance off the Somali coast – 650 miles, which meant it would take 2-3 days for the ship to reach the Somali shore.

Asian Glory was transporting cars from Singapore to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia when it was taken over by the Somali pirates.

Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Rumiana Jeleva announced in relation with the incident that the emergency headquarters at the Foreign Ministry for aiding Bulgarians who are in trouble abroad has been already been turned into a permanent institution.

Asian Glory is the second ship with Bulgarian sailors on board kidnapped by the Somali pirates in 5 days. On December 29, 2009, the UK tanker St. James Park was hijacked with 5 Bulgarian sailors on board. It is already anchored off the Somali coast, and its Russian captain has announced that the entire crew is in a good condition.

The captain of the newly-hijacked ship Asian Glory is a 32-year-old Bulgarian from Varna. Four of the other Bulgarian sailors are also from Varna, and the other three are from Shumen, Yambol and Velingrand.

On Saturday, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry announced emergency phone lines for the relatives of the Bulgarian sailors from the two ships hijacked recently by the Somali pirates on which they can receive the latest available information about their condition - +359 2 948 29 99, +359 2 948 22 51.