Mira ship owner accuses crew of ship hijacking to India

“The crew of Mira ship detained in India hijacked the ship from Dubai to India six months ago.

They intended to hand over the ship to British bank of Culborne Marine Finance instead of Mira Navigation Company’s debt, one of the owners of Mira Navigation Company Ahmet Yilmaz told APA exclusively. He said Mira Navigation indebted $6,700 000 to Culborne Marine Finance and they delayed redeem of debts because of company’s financial problems. “Therefore the bank seized the company’s property and paid to the crew to hijack the ship from Dubai to India. They assured the crew members to solve all their problems. However we filed lawsuit against the bank and the ship’s crew and the bank’s plan to sell the ship failed. Six months have passed since than and now the bank intends to reach agreement with us and even to discharge our debts”. Ahmet Yilmaz said after the lawsuit, the British bank didn’t keep its promise to the crew members and therefore they tried to sink the ship. Yilmaz said they sent new crew to the ship to save it. He said the ship costs $5 000 000. “We will not withdraw our complaints against the bank and crew. They hijacked the ship and it is illegal action”.
The ship Mira was detained in the coastal area of India several months ago and local government didn’t allow the crew members to disembark. The ship owned by a Turkish company was sold to the Indian government by the bank instead of debts. Then two more owners of the ship appeared and they filed lawsuit against the bank. The case is under the Indian court’s proceeding and the ship will be detained in the Indian waters until the court decision. As a result of diplomatic talks held by Azerbaijani and Turkish governments 24-member crew was allowed to disembark. There are 8 Azerbaijanis among the crew members. Now the necessary documents are prepared for their returning home.

/APA/