Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Somali pirates to release tanker, 22 crew after $5.5M ransom

The tanker Marida Marguerite, captured in May by Somali pirates, is slated to be released now that a ransom was paid. The vessel is owned by W-O Shipping Group and has a crew of 22 sailors.

The 13,000-ton vessel and crew were captured 120 miles south of the Omani port of Salalah in a protected shipping corridor.

The ship is registered in the United Stated and managed by German firm W-O.

The tanker had been held on the northeastern Indian Ocean coast near Garacad. However, it had been moved to a location off the Gulf of Aden Coast near Habo.

Official negotiations for release of the vessel and crew reportedly wrapped up some time ago however, an internal conflict with the pirates delayed the official resolution. That issue appears to have been solved.

The pirates were reportedly paid $5.5 million on Sunday.

Source: AHN

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