The crew of the hijacked Russian tanker Moscow University demonstrated valor and professionalism, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said last week.

Putin spoke during his meeting with the ship’s owner, Novoship Ltd head Igor Tonkovidov, Interfax news agency reported.

Tonkovidov promised that his company would pay the crew members extra money to compensate them for their troubles and to mark their professional performance.

Dmitry Ragozin, the Russian representative in NATO headquarters, said Moscow would like the Alliance to create an international judicial base swiftly for fighting piracy.

“Otherwise, all our efforts to eliminate this evil remains a silly game,” Ragozin said.

In the meantime, the vessel was heading to the nearest port to replenish its supplies and make some minor repairs.

The tanker was carrying 86,000 tons of crude oil from Sudan to China when it was captured by Somalia pirates on May 5 and rescued by a Russian anti-submarine cruiser the next day in a commando operation.

Courtesy:shiptalk.com