MOGADISHU - Somali pirates have released a German-operated chemical tanker with its crew of 22 after receiving a ransom payment, a maritime group said yesterday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged MT Marida Marguerite was seized in May by pirates firing automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, 190km south of Oman.
It was sailing from Kandla in Gujarat, India, to the Belgian port of Antwerp with a crew of 19 Indians, two Bangladeshis and one Ukrainian.
"MT Marida Marguerite is now sailing out to safe waters. All 22 crew members are said to be safe," said Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.
About $5,5million (R37million) was paid in ransom on Sunday and the ship was released on Monday, Mwangura said, adding it was probably headed to its original destination in Belgium.
Pirates are making tens of millions in ransoms from seizing merchant ships in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, despite efforts by foreign navies to clamp down on such attacks.
The hijackings have driven up insurance premiums and forced ships to take longer, costlier routes to avoid hot spots.
Industry officials say marine insurers in London's insurance market have widened the stretch of waterways deemed at high risk from Somali pirates as the gangs strike further out at sea.
Pirates release tanker and crew of 22
MOGADISHU - Somali pirates have released a German-operated chemical tanker with its crew of 22 after receiving a ransom payment, a maritime group said yesterday.
The Marshall Islands-flagged MT Marida Marguerite was seized in May by pirates firing automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, 190km south of Oman.
It was sailing from Kandla in Gujarat, India, to the Belgian port of Antwerp with a crew of 19 Indians, two Bangladeshis and one Ukrainian.
"MT Marida Marguerite is now sailing out to safe waters. All 22 crew members are said to be safe," said Andrew Mwangura, head of the Kenya-based East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.
About $5,5million (R37million) was paid in ransom on Sunday and the ship was released on Monday, Mwangura said, adding it was probably headed to its original destination in Belgium.
Pirates are making tens of millions in ransoms from seizing merchant ships in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, despite efforts by foreign navies to clamp down on such attacks.
The hijackings have driven up insurance premiums and forced ships to take longer, costlier routes to avoid hot spots.
Industry officials say marine insurers in London's insurance market have widened the stretch of waterways deemed at high risk from Somali pirates as the gangs strike further out at sea.
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