MUMBAI: For two long months, the crew of a Japanese-owned cargo ship hijacked by pirates lived in perpetual fear of being killed.

They were kept at gunpoint for 24 hours a day while the owners of the Stolt Valor, a chemical tanker, negotiated with the pirates.

Eventually, the Japanese firm paid a US$2.5 million (S$3.8 million) ransom, and the Stolt Valor and its crew of 22 - 18 of whom were Indians - were released on Nov 16, reported CNN-IBN, CNN's sister network in India.

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