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Pirates claim a US$3m ransom
Source: Agencies |
January 10, 2009, Saturday
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SOMALI pirates freed a Saudi supertanker seized in the world's biggest ship hijacking for a US$3 million ransom yesterday, an associate of the gang said.
The capture of the Sirius Star and its US$100 million cargo of crude in November drew attention to a surge in piracy off Somalia that has brought global navies rushing to protect one of the world's most important shipping lanes.
Farah Osman, speaking to Reuters from Haradheere port near where the tanker had been held, said the pirates had wanted more money but finally agreed on US$3 million for the ship.
A regional maritime group confirmed the release.
"The last batch of gunmen have disembarked from the Sirius Star. She is now steaming out to safe waters," said Andrew Mwangura, of the East African Seafarers Assistance program, based in the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The Sirius Star was captured in November with 25 crew members, 450 nautical miles southeast of Kenya, in the boldest seizure to date by Somali pirates.
The capture of the Sirius Star and its US$100 million cargo of crude in November drew attention to a surge in piracy off Somalia that has brought global navies rushing to protect one of the world's most important shipping lanes.
Farah Osman, speaking to Reuters from Haradheere port near where the tanker had been held, said the pirates had wanted more money but finally agreed on US$3 million for the ship.
A regional maritime group confirmed the release.
"The last batch of gunmen have disembarked from the Sirius Star. She is now steaming out to safe waters," said Andrew Mwangura, of the East African Seafarers Assistance program, based in the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The Sirius Star was captured in November with 25 crew members, 450 nautical miles southeast of Kenya, in the boldest seizure to date by Somali pirates.
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