Alakrana crew meet family as they arrive in the Seychelles

Alakrana crew meet family as they arrive in the Seychelles
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By h.b. - Nov 20, 2009 - 10:33 AM

Some of the crew meet with families on the Seychelles - EFE

Most of the families were flown to the islands by the Spanish Air Force, and the Captain of the vessel says he will not sail again

The families of the Alakrana’s eight Galician crew members have travelled to the Seychelles where they have been reunited with their relatives as the boat finally made shore after the 47 days held in captivity by Somali pirates.

The Captain of the Basque tuna fishing boat, Ricardo Blach, has told the press that was his last trip, and has confirmed that he was ill-treated by the pirates and feared for his life on some occasions. He said that he had been tied up, hit and threatened at gunpoint.

He said his release was ‘a dream’ for him, and he hoped that from now on Spanish fishermen could work with more safety, and thanked all the Spanish authorities for working to free them. He had special words of thanks for the Government and the Spanish Ambassador in Kenya, and said he just wanted to get home and that it had been, without doubt, the worst experience of his life.

The families will return to Spain with the crew on board the same Spanish Air Force jet which is took them out to the islands on Thursday.

El Mundo reports the families of 8 crew members from the Basque Country have remained in Spain and turned down the offer made by the Defence Ministry to go to the Seychelles.

A relief crew of 14 sailors from Galicia, with a new captain, has also arrived in the Seychelles to relieve the crew which is currently assigned to the Basque trawler.

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