Crew fears recapture by pirates

Philippine crew members held for five months by Somali pirates fear they could be recaptured after running out of fuel, their captain says.Capt Abelardo Pacheco said the MV Stolt Strength, freed on Tuesday, was dead in the water and drifting dangerously close to Somalia's coast.The Japanese ship was held for longer than any other vessel during a recent surge in Somali piracy.It is now waiting for a rescue tug on its way from Mombasa, Kenya.

See map of how piracy is affecting the region and countries around the world"I can hear the pirates talking and the big ships calling each other so they are very near," Capt Pacheco said, speaking to BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner by satellite phone."Who knows what is in the offing. They might plan an attack during the dark and capture us in the absence of protection."'Low morale'A German warship visited the tanker yesterday to give the crew of 23 emergency food, water and medical aid, according to a spokesman for an EU naval force patrolling the area.But it has since had to move on to another task, leaving the Stolt Strength and its 23 crew with no protection...more..http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=7842825920252114461