Somali pirates free Turkish crew after ransom payment

Local observers reported that the gang of sea-shifta holding the Turkish vessel MV HORIZON I received a randsom and thereafter let the ship and crew sail.

The Turkish cargo ship with 23 crew of Turkish nationality - including one woman - on board was captured in the early morning hours on 08th July 2009. The vessel was taken in the safety corridor set up by the navies and is at present shadowed by Turkish naval forces while it is held by Somali sea-shifta at the Somali Puntland coast near Eyl/Garacad. One sailor was injured during the initial attack by broken glas.

The sea-shifta had in the beginning of the ordeal allegedly found a larger amount of money on the vessel, which did not make negotiations fast.

The Somali pirates have freed the crew after the shipping company paid a ransom, also Turkish media said on Monday.

The Horizon 1 is now heading towards Jordan after pirates disembarked from the ship, NTV broadcaster quoted shipping company Horizon lawyer Nilgun Yamaner as saying. "The ship is heading towards Jordan. The crew will then be brought by plane," Yamaner was quoted as saying.

The father of the second captain confirmed to CNN Turk that the crew had been released after paying an undisclosed ransom.

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