VietNamNet Bridge – The Taiwan-flagged fishing vessal Tai Yuan 227, released by Somali pirates two weeks ago, is now on its way home with three Vietnamese among the 28 crew.

The vessel has docked at a port in Sri Lanka, said Nguyen Xuan Tao, Deputy Head of the Labour Management Division of the Overseas Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

Vu Dinh Tuan, an official of the Civil Engineering Construction Corp No 1 – the parent company of International Manpower and Service Company, one of two enterprises that sent sailors to the ship, confirmed the information.

The ship's owner had sent representatives to receive the vessel and make necessary procedures for the seamen to return home, Tuan said.

Tran Van Tri, from the central province of Nghe An, one of the three Vietnamese mariners, had already contacted his family, saying he was in good health.

The others are Nguyen Tien Anh from the central province of Ha Tinh and Truong Van Hieu from the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

The Tai Yuan 227 was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on May 6. On board were 28 crew from China, Viet Nam, the Philippines, Kenya and Mozambique.

It was released around January 28. The vessel's owner reported receiving a call from the ship's master who said they had been released but he was not sure why. A US warship provided food and water to the crew.

The release of the Tai Yuan 227 caused confusion because until a few days before the release it was being used as a pirate mothership.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News