Date:02/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/02/stories/2009010250290100.htm

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Ship with Indian crew survives pirates’ attack

Mumbai: The Indian crew of the vessel MT Abdul Kalam Azad, which came under attack by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, is reported to be safe after Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) foiled their attempt to hijack the ship.

On receiving a distress call by an Indian Naval vessel and a French vessel near the Gulf of Aden, helicopters were sent to chase away the pirates, FSUI said in a statement. Both the helicopters were successful in chasing the pirates away. The ship owned by Shipping Corporation of India was sailing towards Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.— PTI

Corrections and Clarifications

A PTI item "Hijack bid foiled" ("Briefly" January 2, 2009, page 1) was "The Indian crew of the vessel MT Abdul Kalam Azad, which came under attack by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, is reported to be safe after Forward Seamen's Union of India (FSUI) foiled their attempt to hijack the ship". The General Secretary, FSUI, clarifies that the error crept in because of miscommunication of a press statement. The FSUI had no role to play in foiling the hijack. All the crew members are FSUI members. Shipping Corporation of India sources say the vessel is named after India's first Education Minister. The name then should have been Abul Kalam Azad.