Maltese seaman released after 22-day ordeal under arrest in Libya

The Maltese seaman and three other foreigners were kept hostage after their Malta-flagged boat was boarded by Libyan militias on the high seas off the Libyan coast.

The Maltese government managed to secure the safe release of Maltese national Mario Grech, 54 of Mellieha, captain of the M/V Triva 1 who was held captive by a group of unknown armed militias in the seaport town of Khoms, 120 kms to the East of the Libyan capital, Tripoli. Grech was held together with two Britons and a Georgian national, who also formed part of the Triva 1 crew.

MaltaToday is reliably informed that Grech and his crew were boarded on November 1 while the Triva 1 was on the high seas heading towards Tripoli. The crew was reportedly duped into believing that the high-speed vessel which was approaching, was a Libyan patrol craft.

Once on board, the militias seized control of the Triva 1, disconnecting its radio and radar equipment, and bound the crew, while one of the armed men steered the boat towards Homs.

Once on land, Grech and his crew were taken to a camp and kept there for 22 days, while their employers and family were being asked for an undisclosed ransom.

Diplomatic contacts were said to have been constant, with the Maltese government actively engaging the Libyan authorities to intervene.

The ship's owners also mounted a legal challenge with the authorities in Tripoli, obtaining a court order by which the government was made to intervene to free Grech and his crew, and have the M/V Triva returned to its owners.

Reports from Libya said that requests for ransom for the crew's release were made by the militias, but government or the ship's owner would confirm or deny.

Speaking to MaltaToday, Marcus Tonna, the owner of the M/V Triva described the ordeal as a "very ugly" one.

"My crew went through quite a rough time at the hands of the militias," Tonna said, refusing to give further comments.

The M/V Trivia served as a humanitarian link with Tripoli, Benghazi and Misurata during the Libyan uprising which ousted Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

At the height of the uprising in August 2011, the Triva 1 was fired upon by Gaddafi loyalists as it attempted to leave Tripoli harbour with a number of Maltese and foreign evacuees.

It was forced back into harbour until a deal was brokered with Tripoli to have the foreigners leave for Malta.