Image By Mikael Soderholm
Officials say that Somali pirates have released a chemical tanker including its North Korean crew. The MV Theresa VIII was seized in the South Somali Basin back in November 2009.
Reuters news agency reports that a £2.3m ransom had been paid for the release of the vessel and her crew, stated by Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme. “It was freed today. The crew is safe. All the gunmen have disembarked,” said Mr Mwangura.
The MV Theresa VIII was hijacked on route to Mombasa, Kenya. Cdr John Harbour, of the EU Naval Force which patrols the region, said the tanker had not asked for assistance after it was released but warships were monitoring the situation.
International naval patrols have failed to stop attacks on shipping, although the French navy said it captured 35 suspected pirates off Somalia’s coast earlier this month.
Many pirate leaders have, reportedly, amassed fortunes through ransoms due to lawlessness in Somalia allowing pirates to function with relative impunity in their own country.