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After enduring a harrowing experience at sea, Captain Shishir Wahi has finally returned to his home in Alipore on July 31, 2023. Wahi was the captain of the tanker 'Cotton,' which was hijacked by pirates on the night of July 15, 2013, off the coast of Gabon, West-Central Africa. He assumed command of the vessel on July 12, shortly after boarding at Port Gentil on July 11. The attack unfolded abruptly, with a crew of 20 Indian nationals—six of whom hailed from Kolkata—facing the threat of piracy. It was only on July 30 that family members were informed about a positive development: the pirates had abandoned the ship a day earlier. Wahi's safe return to Kolkata's airport leads him to a heartfelt reunion with his loved ones in Alipore, bringing an end to an ordeal that left many on edge.

In a significant operation, the Ghana Navy, in collaboration with the National Security, successfully intercepted and detained the crew of the vessel MT MUSTARD. This ship is believed to have been involved in a piracy case off the Gabonese coast. On approximately July 14, 2013, the MT COTTON was hijacked by suspected pirates, who reportedly siphoned about 3,500 Metric tons of fuel. Following this incident, the MT MUSTARD headed towards Ghanaian waters, docking initially at Tema port anchorage before moving to an offshore facility in Saltpond. However, the vigilant Ghana Navy tracked and apprehended the vessel at Saltpond, ensuring the safety of maritime operations in the region.

The 20-member Indian crew aboard the chemical tanker MV Cotton is safe and back in command following its hijacking by suspected pirates off Gabon's coast, confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs on July 22, 2013. Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin shared the good news via Twitter, stating, "MV Cotton back under control of crew. All crew of MV Cotton safe." The Maltese-flagged, Turkish-owned vessel was reportedly seized on Sunday while it awaited berthing in the Gulf of Guinea, with shipowners losing contact with the tanker late on the same day. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of maritime security in the region, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by vessels in these waters.