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MV Suez freed by pirates has sunk, confirm officials

MUSCAT - Officials in Oman have confirmed that MV Suez, the Egyptian-owned merchant vessel seized by Somali pirates and released after 10 months, has sunk in international waters.

“I can confirm that the MV Suez sank in 4,900 metres of water, which means that it poses no threat to shipping or navigation in the area” a Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs officials told the state-owned ŒOman Daily Observer’.

“Furthermore, as the vessel had completely run out of fuel prior to its sinking, there is no risk of any oil spill or pollution that may harm the marine environment or Dhofar’s shores,” Sayyid Sulaiman bin Mohammed al Busaidy, Superintendent General of Pollution Control, added.

The 22-member crew —11 Egyptians, six Indians, four Pakistanis, including Captain Wasi Hassan, and one Sri Lankan — were safely transferred to a Pakistani navy vessel before the ship sank. They are expected to reach Karachi on Thursday, from where the non-Pakistani sailors will be repatriated to their home countries.

Earlier attempts to tow the reportedly severely damaged vessel to the Omani port of Salalah failed and the crew were forced to abandon it some 74 nautical miles southeast of Salalah, about a week after it was released by the brigands.

ravindranath@khaleejtimes.com