71 days at the mercy of Somali pirates

The crew of a Philippines ship released by Somali pirates knelt down and prayed, then told of their two months of torment.

MV Centauri, with 26 crew members, docked in Mombasa on Tuesday night and was immediately surrounded by Kenyan security agents who took over investigations.

On the night of September 18, they said, they heard gunshots, with one bullet penetrating through the metal wall of the ship, one centimetre thick.

Catalino Burigsay, 36, who has been a seaman for only a year, said it was his first experience with pirates. The crew members earlier spent the day happily, hoping to get to Mombasa in three days.

“When we heard the shots, we knew pirates were already on board. It was scaring because they huddled us together and threatened to kill us if we did not cooperate,” said the father of three.

Seamen can spend years on board a vessel without seeing their family members.

Chief cook Joland Besana, who left his wife expecting their now six-month-old daughter, said: “I could not imagine dying without seeing my daughter.”

He left home on November 1, last year, and the girl was born months after he left. During his 13-year career, the 35-year-old had not fallen into the hands of pirates.

“I used to hear of hijacks, but had never experienced it. But I kept praying we all get home safely,” he said, adding: “When they captured us, they demanded our mobile phones and money.”

He said seamen had learnt to hide valuables when approaching dangerous areas, as was the case with Besana who hid his gold ring and started wearing it only after the pirates started being friendly.

“But they took it days before we were released.” The ship was hijacked by pirates in the Gulf of Eden.

On Wednesday, police, led by port detective John Nyanzwii spent two hours talking to crew members and dusting for finger prints.

It was not clear whether a ransom was paid. Neither the captain of the ship nor the ship owner’s representative spoke to the Press.

All 26 crew members from the Philippines appeared to be in good health. Briefing journalists after police completed investigations, Mr Nyanzwii said the captain did not disclose whether a ransom was paid.

But Mr Andrew Mwangura, East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme coordinator said owing to the number of days the ship was held, some money must have been paid. But he was not privy to information on the amount paid.

“The vessel was attacked by 14 pirates who used two boats and fired at the ship,” he said. “They took turns in holding hostage the members for the entire period,” Mr Nyanzwii added.

He said the pirates had not terrorised the crew much, and would even share with them food rations. The vessel registered in Malta, has a dead weight tonnage of 19,555 tons and is carrying 15,500 metric tons of salt.

It was sailing to Mombasa from Asmara in Eritrea when it was hijacked about 200 nautical miles off Somali waters, and has been held captive for 71 days. It was released last Friday, November 28.

According to Mr Nyanzwii, the police were extracting evidence that would be used in future to convict a suspect.

On November 18, the British Navy reported they had killed three suspected pirates and arrested eight as they attempted to hijack a ship.

They were charged in Mombasa the following day. “The pirates were captured in the high seas on Somalia waters while pursuing a vessel and handed over to Kenya police,” Coast police boss Kingori Mwangi said.

Somali pirates continue to hijack ships despite presence of Nato ships, and are still holding MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks and other military equipment.

A Saudi Arabia super tanker Sirius Star with oil worth $100 million is also being held. The seamen said they had not heard about MV Faina, although they sailed a couple of miles from the vessel.

“While in the hands of pirates communication is completely cut off,” said Besana.

MV Centauri was expected to start offloading and would go to Mumbai, said Mr Hashim Ahmed of Wilhelmsen Ship Services, the ship agent in Mombasa.