News
Somali pirates threat may affect fishing industry, says owner of ‘Lorenzo Putha 4′
View(s):- Appeals to Govt. to help him financially to bring back his vessel
- Navy says the six Sri Lankan fishermen who were rescued by Seychelles authorities will soon be home
Pix and Text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
Sri Lankan fishermen venturing into the Arabian Sea are facing a major threat from Somali pirates, who are increasingly hijacking vessels to be sold to those involved in the human trafficking trade.
‘Lorenzo Putha 4′, which was on its inaugural journey with six fishermen on board, was believed to have been targeted by the pirates as it was an eye-catching vessel compared to hundreds of other fishing crafts that were out at sea at the same time, the vessel’s owner, Francis Milroy Perera, said.
Milroy Perera
The 50-foot vessel was not only new but had been well equipped for long journeys, with the owner spending nearly Rs five million to build the vessel before it set off on its inaugural journey from the Dickowita fisheries harbour on January 12.
Just two weeks after it took off and maintained regular contact with its owner, Mr. Perera, the vessel was captured by the pirates. Even two hours before the vessel was hijacked, the crew had communicated with the owner.
The hijacked vessel was directed to head to the port of Bosaso, northeastern Somalia, known to be a port used for human trafficking to Italy.
In Sri Lanka, out of 5600 fishing vessels, only about 1500 go out to the international seas. The owners of these trawlers spend about Rs. 5m for one vessel on fuel, necessary equipment, and food for just one such voyage.
The owner of ‘Lorenzo Putha 4′, Mr. Perera, told the Sunday Times: “My father is a fisherman, and I too became one. I worked in Italy for 10 years. With the money I earned there, I bought two trawlers. I employ a number of fishermen on my boats. I pawned jewellery and spent about Rs. 5 million on ‘Lorenzo Putha 4′. He said the threat of Somali pirates may affect the fishing industry.
He said whenever his trawlers go out to sea, he is in constant contact to check whether his fishermen are in good health and to check on the status of the vessels. “On the 27th morning, there was no problem. But in the evening, I was shocked to hear that the trawler had been seized,” he said.
Mr. Perera said he was relieved that the Navy, the Fisheries Department, and the Foreign Ministry had worked to get the trawler and his men released.
“We send a trawler spending a large amount of money. So when sea pirates attack them, it is a serious issue. I will have to find another Rs. 2.5 m to bring back my vessel. So I am appealing to the government to help me,” he said.
Standing out: The colourful well equipped Lorenzo Putha 4
Speaking about the operation launched to rescue the fishermen and trawler, Navy spokesman Captain Gayan Wickremasooriya said: ‘The Fisheries Department informed the Navy that this trawler had been seized by the Somalian pirates while fishing in the Arabian Sea. Accordingly, we immediately kept the Joint Operation Force in Bahrain informed of the situation. We discussed the matter with 39 countries in the Joint Operation Force. Also, we contacted the countries in the sea zone where the incident was said to have taken place.
“We learned that the vessel was being taken towards Somalia, close to the Seychelles and we were in touch with authorities there. Accordingly, the Seychelles launched an operation on January 28 involving two helicopters and a ship called ‘Topaz’. They had located the trawler. They had learned that there were armed pirates, and after another special operation, they had taken into custody three pirates and successfully rescued the Sri Lankan fishermen,” he said, adding that the fishermen will be returning to Sri Lanka soon.
The fishermen after they were rescued
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