Panaji, Feb 22 (IANS) The lone Goan sailor onboard cargo vessel MV Sinin, which was hijacked earlier this month off Oman, is safe, Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik said Tuesday.

According to a senior official of the directorate general of shipping, Sailor Thomas Pereira was safe, Naik said in a statement issued here.

"I have been informed by Captain Harish Khatri, deputy director general of shipping, that Thomas Pereira is safe. The crew of the vessel have been allowed to speak to their families," Naik said.

Twenty-two crew members, including nine Indians, were on board the vessel owned by Irano Hind Shipping Company Ltd, Tehran, Iran, when it was hijacked Feb 12.

The vessel was going from Fujairah in UAE to Singapore with about 52,000 tonnes of iron ore.

Naik said that he had spoken to Zenaida, wife of Pereira, a resident of Margao located 35 km from here.

"She (Pereira's wife) received a call to inform her that he was fine," Naik said.

Naik said that Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan assured him that the situation was being monitored through Indian Navy and the owners of the vessel.