Monday, January 12, 2009

162 Somali Refugees Rescued By Amver Tanker


The maritime weekly newspaper Tradewinds reported this morning that the Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG) tanker Overseas Primar, a 39,000 dwt Handysize tanker, rescued 162 Somali migrants including an eight month pregnant woman and a 12 year old child.
Tradedwinds reported Malta's Rescue Coordination Center received a distress call from the wooden boat Sunday morning. Other vessels, including the bulker SLH Venus, joined the search for the distress vessel.
The crew of the Overseas Primar originally thought they would be encountering 18 refugees but those numbers climbed as the tanker approached the ship. Once all the survivors were aboard the OSG tanker the crew provided medical attention, clothing, and food.
The Overseas Primar remains anchored off Malta waiting for rough weather to pass to Maltese officials can board the ship and accept the refugees.
The Overseas Primar has been an Amver participant since January, 1988 and has earned over 14 awards for participation.
We will provide updates as they arrive.

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