DUBAI // Jebel Ali will probably be the first port of call for the 22 sailors aboard the hijacked cargo ship MV Albedo.
The announcement came today from a negotiator and family members of the crew, a day after US$2.85million (Dh10.4m) was collected for the hostages' release.
The men could reach Dubai by early next month, said Ahmed Chinoy, the chairman of the Citizens-Police Liaison Committee in Karachi, which represented the relatives in negotiations with the pirates.
"We estimate they will be with us in 15-20 days," he said. "They will most probably come to Jebel Ali because it has a dry dock.
"Repair will be needed in the shipyard since the ship is in a very bad condition and will need to be made seaworthy by the owner."
After being allowed to speak to all the hostages late on Tuesday, Mr Chinoy said it was clear they all needed medical care.
"Their spirits are high but they have lost weight with no proper nutrition, water and medication. Now it's a matter of surviving those conditions for some more time before their ordeal is over."
The funds were raised in time for the Tuesday deadline set by the pirates. About half the Dh10.4m was raised in a massive fund-raising drive in Pakistan where groups of businessmen, donors and relatives of the crew contributed.
Omid Khosrojerdi, the Malaysian-based ship owner, had agreed to raise at least half of the funds. The pirates had twice extended the original April 26 deadline after the relatives' campaign initially had a shortfall of 150m Pakistani rupees (Dh6m).
The cargo ship was hijacked in November 2010 in the Gulf of Aden after it left Jebel Ali for Kenya. It has a crew of seven Pakistanis, seven Bangladeshis, six Sri Lankans, one Indian and one Iranian. One Indian sailor died due to lack of medicine.
The 18-month siege has taken its toll on relatives like Shahnaz Jawaid, wife of the ship's captain Jawaid Khan, who often received threatening telephone calls from the pirates.
Mrs Jawaid, whose daughter works in Dubai, and other relatives explained to the pirates over the phone on Tuesday that the money from Pakistan and Malaysia would be pooled together and then handed over.
"I needed to stay calm and explain we needed time," Mrs Jawaid said.
"I have become a nervous wreck because of the phone calls, it's been very hard and I have panic attacks," Mrs Jawaid said. "Still, we are all very happy that we are almost at the end, but we hope everything goes off well."
In the Maldives, Fatima Farhana, a schoolteacher and daughter of the ship's second engineer Mohammed Bisthamy, read the news about the successful fundraising online.
"There were so many Google alerts about it and I immediately called my mother in Sri Lanka," she said. "My mother can't believe it. She has been very ill after the hijacking. It's been so difficult for us to eat or sleep not knowing how he is living."
rtalwar@thenational.ae
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
'Brazen'
Director: Monika Mitchell
Starring: Alyssa Milano, Sam Page, Colleen Wheeler
Rating: 3/5
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Du Plessis plans his retirement
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis said on Friday the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in two years' time will be his last.
Du Plessis, 34, who has led his country in two World T20 campaigns, in 2014 and 2016, is keen to play a third but will then step aside.
"The T20 World Cup in 2020 is something I'm really looking forward to. I think right now that will probably be the last tournament for me," he said in Brisbane ahead of a one-off T20 against Australia on Saturday.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Asia Cup Qualifier
Final
UAE v Hong Kong
Live on OSN Cricket HD. Coverage starts at 5.30am
