Two of MV Beluga Nomination crew are reported missing, one deadly wounded
One of the crew members of MV Beluga Nomination was shot dead, two men are reported missing, Seafarers Union of Russia said with reference to the crewing company Marlow Navigation. The killed seafarer nationality is not reported.
The tragedy occurred on January 26, when Danish military frigate HDMS Esbern Snare tried to free the hostages, opening fire on MV Beluga Nomination. The operation triggered shootout. One pirate was killed, a crew member received mortal wounds. Four seafarers attempted to escape from the pirated vessel. Two of them, a Filipino and Ukrainian, were taken later from a lifeboat by the team of Danish warship in the Indian Ocean, 300 nm off the coast of Somalia.
According to some reports, two other seafarers are still missing. Verena Beckhusen, head of press office of Beluga Shipping GmbH said she could not give more details adding that the shipping company is happy about the rescue of the crew members.
The MV Beluga Nomination (the flag of Antigua and Barbudda, operator of the vessel - Beluga Fleet Management GmbH, Germany) with a mixed crew of 12 (nationals of Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Philippines) was pirated off the Seychelles costs.
The vessel was built in 2006, DWT - 9,775 tons, LOA - 132 m, beam - 16 m, max speed - 7,4 site, IMO number: 9356402, MMSI number: 304908000, call sign V2BSI. She was bound for Victoria Harbour with a cargo of steel from the port of Suez (Egypt).