Somali pirates release Greek ship, 19 sailors

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Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Somalia

Other stories from Somalia

• 3 December 2009: At least fifteen killed after suicide bombing in Somali hotel
• 1 December 2009: Somali pirates seize Greek-owned tanker
• 19 November 2009: Somali pirates attack US-flagged ship, vessel evades capture
• 18 November 2009: European Union to train Somali security forces
• 12 November 2009: Judge known for jailing pirates shot dead in Bossaso, Somalia

...More articles here

Location of Somalia

To write, edit, start or view other articles on Somalia, see the Somalia Portal

The incident took place in the Gulf of Aden
Image: NOAA.

According to East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme Kenyan chapter head, Andrew Mwangura, the Greek freighter MV Captain Stephanos and all its 19 crew, consisting of 17 Filipinos, one Chinese and a Ukrainian, had been released late Monday, after 78 days in captivity. It was unclear, however, if any ransom was paid. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said that "there are [still] 91 Filipino seafarers on board six ships still with Somali pirates."

Somali pirates seized the Bahamas-flagged vessel on September 21 near the Horn of Africa, as the bulk carrier, was cruising in the Gulf of Aden en route and transporting coal to Europe. The captors locked the crew inside the vessel and they were not fed well. The vessel is now headed to Italy and will sail from there to Greece, to meet the ship owners.

Reuters reported that "a surge in attacks at sea this year in the busy Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean off Somalia has pushed up insurance costs, brought the gangs tens of millions of dollars in ransoms, and prompted foreign warships to rush to the area."

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Related news

• "Somali pirates seize Greek freighter, 25 crew in the Gulf of Aden". Wikinews, September 18, 2008

Sources

Wikipedia has an article about List of ships attacked by Somali pirates.

• Mark Joseph Ubalde "17 RP seafarers released, but 91 others remain in Somalia". GMA Network, December 10, 2008
• AFP "Somali pirates release Greek ship". ABC Online, December 10, 2008
• "91 Pinoy seafarers still held by pirates--DFA". ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation, December 10, 2008
• Deng Shasha "17 kidnapped Filipino sailors freed by Somali pirates". Xinhua News Agency, December 10, 2008
• Daniel Wallis "Somali pirates free Greek ship - maritime official". Reuters, December 9, 2008
• "Somali Pirates Seize Greek Bulk Carrier With 25 Crew On Board". Bloomberg L.P., September 18, 2008
  

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