Crew and ship missing for three weeks
Anxiety over fate of ship after contact lost in Indian Ocean

Anxiety grows over the fate of 14 crewmembers of a multi-purpose cargo ship that disappeared almost three weeks ago in the Indian Ocean.

The REEF AZANIA, a 2583 dwt vessel built in 1985, was on her way from Dubai to the Seychelles and then Zanzibar with cargoes, but during what has been described as 'turbulence' in the Indian Ocean all contact with the vessel was lost.

The operators of the ship, Zambezi Shipping Agency, agents for the ship's owners, Reef Line, say they lost contact with the vessel after this, some 20 days since.

Although some press reports fear piracy, it is not thought she has been another victim.

The shipping agency say that all efforts are being made to trace the ship.

The St Vincent & Grenadines flagged vessel was formerly the AZANIA and before that COLMAR CASTOR, KRISTINE and STENHEIM