New Delhi:
For the last several days, the crew of MV Suez who were released by Somali pirates, has been struggling to make it home. And it looks like they have to wait a little more.
The crew is now being taken to Pakistan after it abandoned the vessel and moved to Pakistani frigate PNS Babur, which is escorting the sea vessel. They will subsequently be shifted to PNS Zulfiqar as Babur is a warship.
The crew abandoned the ship after a tug boat, sent to tow the ship to the Salalah port in Oman broke down. Another tug boat will now be sent to tow away the abandoned ship.
There are also reports that Suez, which ran out of fuel, might be sinking due to bad weather. Poor conditions had prevented mid-sea refueling to be performed on Saturday.
The Egyptian ship has six Indian sailors on board and was released by the Somali pirates recently.
The journey of MV Suez has been mired in controversy on who would escort them to safety. The Pakistani Navy did move in first with its frigate, the PNS Babur, and then India, belatedly moved in by sending its frigate, the INS Godavari.
But then, things seemed to get out of control. Pakistan alleged that INS Godavari, the Indian warship escorting MV Suez brushed with its frigate, alleging that the Indian Navy warship Godavari "not only hampered humanitarian operations being carried out by Pakistan Navy Ship Babur for Merchant Vessel Suez but also undertook dangerous manoeuvres, which resulted in the brushing of the sides" of the two warships. (
Read: Pak statement on complaint against Indian ship)
New Delhi, however, strongly denied the allegations, claiming instead that it was the Pakistani warship which scraped past INS Godavari.
In fact, India lodged a formal protest with Pakistan over the incident, expressing "serious concern" over the incident. The Indian government claims that the entire narrative was turned upside down by Pakistan.
(Read: Govt's statement on formal protest lodged with Pak)Sources now indicate that it was the Pakistani frigate that tried to pass the INS Godavari from the right, bumping into the helicopter deck area and causing superficial damage.
The Navy too today dismissed Pakistan's allegation that its warship had brushed PNS Babur escorting MV Suez, saying the "reports of aggression" are "incorrect and based on misinformation".
The alleged incident is of a serious nature considering both INS Godavari and the PNS Babur are missile-armed frigates, commanded by crews trained to fight each other.