Somali pirates have released a small Yemeni freighter and its 15 crew, held since January, the Kenya-based environmental organisation Ecoterra International said Sunday.
"The MT Sea Princess II and her crew of 15 seafarers, including eight Indian and two Yemeni sailors, is free" said the non-governmental organisation which closely monitors piracy off Somalia.
"The last pirates left this morning and right now the crew and vessel will come into Bosasso harbour (off northeast Somalia) where the crew will get some rest in order to then return guarded to Yemen."
The small ship, flying the Saint-Vincent flag, belongs to three Yemeni and Somali businessmen.
It was seized by pirates on January 3 when it was on its way with 2,000 tonnes of fuel on board to the Yemeni island of Socotra.
A total of 16 ships and 273 sailors are currently being held by Somali pirates pending the outcome of negotiations for ransom money for their release.
According to the International Maritime Bureau, pirate attacks off Somalia have increased tenfold in the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2008, going from six to 61.
Source: AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment