The Indian government will raise the issue of piracy in the high seas at the meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London on May 11.

S B Agnihotri, Director General of Shipping, said he would be meeting officials in New Delhi to chalk out strategy on release of seven Indian crew of 'MT Asphalt Venture', who were held hostages despite payment of ransom money.

The DG Shipping was responding to questions after receiving representations from a number of organizations representing seafarers and ship owners here yesterday.

National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), Maritime Union of India, Indian National Ship owners Association, Foreign Owners and Shipping Managers Association (FOSMA), Maritime Association of Ship owners, Ship Managers and Agents (MASSA) and Company of Master Mariners of India met the DG, Shipping, and gave him representations on the issue of piracy in the high seas.

Agnihotri said the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO would also discuss the issue of providing armed guards on board merchant vessels.

He also informed that 'MT Asphalt Venture' with eight of its released crew members will be reaching Mombassa today. He said his department would talk to the released crew members and find out reasons for pirates reneging on their promise. The DG Shipping also revealed that there has been a brief interaction with one of the crew members - chief engineer, and he was hopeful that the hostages may be fine.

There have been already 161 incidents of piracy attacks this year, of which 17 resulted in hijacking. There are, as of today 25 ships-- 19 merchant ships and remaining are fishing vessels/dhows/yachts) and 551 seafarers in pirate captivity.

Among those in capacity of pirates, are 46 Indian seafarers.

Indian seafarers are on 6 foreign flag ships, namely, MV Suez (6), MV Iceberg (6), MT Savina Caylyn (17), MV Sinin (9), MV Zirku (1) and 7 Indians are on Asphalt Venture, and have been held hostage by pirates after release of the vessel.

In 2009, 2010 and 2011, a total of 379 Indians were taken hostages by pirates when their vessels were hijacked. During the same period, a total of 333 Indians were released by pirates, an official release said.