There are two Keralites among the 22 crew in the Panama-flagged chemical oil tanker Royal Grace which was hijacked by Somalian pirates off the Oman coast on March 2.
Dibin Davis, 22, son of Arangathu Paramabil Davis, and Stanley Vincent, 22, son of Thelappilly Mangalath Vincent, both hailing from Mapranam near Thrissur, joined the Dubai-based Oyster Cargo Shipping Company last February, according to their relatives. Both sailors contacted their relatives on February 28 and informed them that they were going to Nigeria. It was their maiden trip, said Mr. Davis, father of Dibin.
“We came to know about the hijack from media reports. Nobody informed us so far,” said Mr. Vincent, Stanley's father.
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The relatives have sent petition to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi to intervene in the issue for the rescue of the sailors.