The Bangladeshi-flagged ship MV Abdullah, along with hostages freed from the clutches of Somali pirates, is expected to reach Kutubdia on (Monday 13) with 23 sailors and crewmembers. After unloading a portion of the vessel’s cargo, the sailors will be brought to the jetty by boat or lighter ship by Tuesday afternoon.
Mehrul Karim, the chief executive officer (CEO) of SR Shipping Ltd – the company that owns the vessel – confirmed the matter saying, 'The ship was about 350 nautical miles away from Kutubdia at 3:50 pm on Sunday.'
The ship is expected to reach Kutubdia by tomorrow evening or night at the speed it is operating.
Tanveer Ahmed, the fourth engineer of the ship, said that the ship is now close to the coast of the country. Everyone is eagerly waiting to reach home and meet their relatives.
Mizanul Islam, media advisor of KSRM, the company that owns the ship, said that the ship will unload some limestone at Kutubdia and leave for Chattogram port. The ship with 23 sailors is expected to reach Kutubdia by evening on Monday (May 13).
He said, 'As far as we know, all the sailors on board are healthy. We will be able to discuss our next course after they reach Kutubdia.'
After loading 56,000 tonnes of limestone, the ship left the UAE port of Mina Saqr in the early hours of April 30 and then went to a nearby port to refuel before heading for Chattogram.
The ship came under attack by Somali pirates on March 12, when it was carrying 55,000 tonnes of coal from the Maputo port of Mozambique to Al Hamriyah port in the UAE.
The pirates released the ship at 12 am in April 13 after reportedly receiving a ransom.
