September 24 (SeeNews) - Swiss Massoel Shipping has engaged a team to secure the release of the 12 crew members kidnapped on board its cargo vessel off the Nigerian coast, the Slovenian foreign ministry said on Monday, confirming that a Slovenian national is among those captured.
"Massoel Shipping has engaged a professionally qualified team authorised to handle the matter," the foreign ministry said in a brief statement, adding that the shipowner is in contact with the families of the cerew members.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Tweeted on Sunday that pirates have kidnapped 12 crew members of a Swiss cargo vessel off the coast of Nigeria, among whom are Croatian, Bosnia and Slovenian nationals.
Also on Monday, Croatia's foreign ministry told SeeNews it has received confirmation that a Croatian national was on board the seized ship.
"The ministry of foreign and European affairs, through the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Bern, is in constant contact with the crisis management of the Swiss foreign ministry and the shipping company," it told SeeNews in an emailed statement.
According to a report by news agency Reuters, seven of the crew members on board the Swiss Massoel Shipping vessel are from the Philippines, with a national each from Croatia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Ukraine and Romania.
The news agency also confirmed that the ship was abducted on Saturday as it was making its way between the cities of Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Slovenia's foreign ministry noted that it cannot provide any more information at the request of the relatives of the abducted and the shipowner.