19/11/2008
British Hostages On Oil Tanker Named
Two Britons who were among those held hostage on board the Saudi Arabian oil tanker hijacked off the east coast of Africa, have been named.
Peter French and James Grady were on the Sirius Star, an oil tanker belonging to Dubai-based Vela International Marine Ltd., which was seized by a group of armed men approximately 420 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia on Sunday.
Mr French, from County Durham, is married with a 17-year-old daughter while Mr Grady, from Strathclyde, are among those being held by pirates demanding a ransom.
The large oil tanker is owned by Saudi oil company Aramco, however, it was sailing under a Liberian flag.
The Sirius Star is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked. It has a cargo of 2 million barrels, worth more than $100m - more than a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output.
A statement issued on behalf of the families of the British crew, MV Sirius Star, read: "The families of Peter French, from County Durham, and James Grady, from Strathclyde, greatly appreciate the concern that has been expressed by people throughout the UK and beyond, about Peter and James.
"They hope that Peter and James will be home safely to their families very soon."
(JM)
Peter French and James Grady were on the Sirius Star, an oil tanker belonging to Dubai-based Vela International Marine Ltd., which was seized by a group of armed men approximately 420 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia on Sunday.
Mr French, from County Durham, is married with a 17-year-old daughter while Mr Grady, from Strathclyde, are among those being held by pirates demanding a ransom.
The large oil tanker is owned by Saudi oil company Aramco, however, it was sailing under a Liberian flag.
The Sirius Star is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked. It has a cargo of 2 million barrels, worth more than $100m - more than a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output.
A statement issued on behalf of the families of the British crew, MV Sirius Star, read: "The families of Peter French, from County Durham, and James Grady, from Strathclyde, greatly appreciate the concern that has been expressed by people throughout the UK and beyond, about Peter and James.
"They hope that Peter and James will be home safely to their families very soon."
(JM)
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