SSG No 20 - Shipgaz

keep the main engine running in order
to ease the pressure on the anchor chain.
Also the two auxiliary engines were running
during the stay. There was high consumption
of fresh water, as the Somalian
soldiers were very keen on taking showers.
Three times the ship ran out of fresh water,
but again the hi-jackers showed gentlemen
style. On one occasion two tons of fresh
water was delivered in 20 litre containers
from the facilities ashore and sailed out in
a small dingy. Later one of three trawlers
lying (Somalia Marine’s fl eet) with a fresh
water generator supplied nine tons of fresh
water.
During the fi rst month the temperature
outside was ”only” 21–22° C, in August it
was up to 25° C and with a lot of wind and
Indian Ocean swell.
Negotiations
From day one at anchor there was contact
from the hi-jackers with the offi ce in
Copenhagen, where the Police had placed
a negotiator to handle the talking with captain
Niels Nielsen as middleman and interpreter
between the offi ce in Copenhagen
and the hi-jackers. The negotiations took a
long time, as shipowner Jørgen Folmer was
not willing to pay the full amount right
away. Slowly and day-by-day the offer was
raised a little to a fi nal sum in the neighbourhood
of USD 750,000. The hi-jackers
needed at least USD 570,000 to cover their
losses.
The fi nal offer was given on a Friday in
August and accepted the following Monday,
but it took nearly another ten days
before the ship was released and the last
soldiers left the vessel.
Just before this happened, the soldiers
took the last loot from the Danica White.
The two TVs in the mess rooms, one of the
ABs’ and the captain’s private computers
and two portable air condition units were
stolen as well as computers from the offshore
mud lock stowed in a container on
deck. The rest of the cargo, drilling pipes
and oil-based mud in big bags, was never
touched by the soldiers.
Free at last
”We had the best possible service during
the fl ight back to Denmark from Djibouti
and also during dinner at the best
hotel in Djibouti. We looked forward to
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similar treatment in the future after leaving
our ship … Ten seats on a private jet,
a three course dinner, and wine was something
highly appreciated after the days at
anchor”, says Niels Nielsen.
”We were met at sea by the French warship
Brisson and called up by a Danish liaison
offi cers as well as a civil servant from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We were in
fact asked to leave the Danica White, which
was sailed by a French crew and the Danish
offi cer in order to give investigators an
opportunity to take technical evidence for
a future trail”, explains Niels Nielsen. ”We
did not bother and were happy to enjoy
the French hospitality onboard the Brisson”,
the captain adds.
”I must compliment the Government
coverage to the families. H. Folmer & Co
went to the police with all addresses to
the next of kin and they, along with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, took good
care of the families. Meeting every week in
Odense and daily telephone updates and
all travel expenses paid, that is really good
service for citizens”, Niels Nielsen says
with a smile.
bent mikkelsen
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...”on this voyage we used 87,4 metric tonnes of HFO less”...
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16 sCAnDinAViAn sHiPPinG GAZette • OCtObeR 26, 2007