First Chinese diplomatic channels, then the shipowner and finally EU NAVFOR confirmed today that MV YUAN XIANG is sailing free with all crew being accounted for after having been held hostage for 207 days.
MV YUAN XIANG : Seized November 12, 2010. The Chinese-owned general cargo ship MV YUAN XIANG (IMO 7609192) carrying 29 sailors of Chinese nationality was seized during the night by an unknown number of pirates in the Arabian Sea in position 18:02.55N – 066:03.39E - around 680nm east of Salalah, Oman. An act of piracy was then confirmed on 12.11.2010 at 07h01 UTC.
According to the China Marine Rescue Centre (CMRC), the Chinese- owner-manager and Ningbo-based Hongyuan Ship Management Ltd (HONGYUAN MARINE CO LTD) in Zhejiang, China, had received a call just before midnight whereby the pirates informed that they were sailing the vessel, owned by HONGAN SHIPPING CO LTD, to Somalia.
The 22,356 dwt vessel flies a flag of convenience (FOC) from Panama, a flag-state who apparently even doesn't care when sailors are dying an unnatural death on their registered vessels, like on MV ICEBERG I.
The CMRC was reportedly was at first unable to get in touch with the hijacked ship and the fate of the sailors remained unclear, Xinhua said, adding that the attacked occurred outside a region protected by a multinational forces, including China's navy. The vessel was for a certain time at Xabo (Habo) at the Gulf of Aden coast but was then commandeered around the Horn into the Indian Ocean and held off Dhanane, south of Garacad at the North-Eastern coast. Meanwhile it was transferred to Ceel Caduur north of Hobyo at the Central Somali Indian Ocean coast of Somalia. Negotiations seem to have made real progress, but a release operation was terminated when a ransom delivery was busted by Somali government officials in Mogadishu, who impounded two planes, six foreigners and US$3,6mio in cash - apparently for the release of this vessel and crew. The sidelines, however, have obviously managed the release now.
For further details and regional information request the Somali Marine and Coastal Monitor (SMCM) and see the situation map of the PIRACY COASTS OF SOMALIA.
Source: www.australia.to and news on www.international.to
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