Indian Embassy in Tokyo to speak to Stolt Valor's owners

New Delhi: Central Government has postponed the visit of a team to Japan to meet the owners of the hijacked chemical tanker MV Stolt Valor.

The delegation from the National Shipping Board was scheduled to leave on Friday night.

Now it has been decided that the Indian Embassy officials in Tokyo will be meeting the owners.

Sources in the National Shipping Board said the delegation would be sent based on the feedback received from the Indian Embassy.

The ship with 18-member Indian crew was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on September 15 by Somali pirates. The pirates are reportedly demanding $2 million to release the ship.

Seema Goyal, wife of Captain Prabhat Kumar Goyal of the hijacked ship, may also accompany the delegation.

Meanwhile, seven NATO warships are taking up position around Somalian waters. An Indian warship is already in the pirate-infested area.