Pirates Release Chemical Tanker off Somalia

Virgin Islands owned, Kiribati-flagged, 22, 294 tonnes chemical tanker MV Theresa VIII, which had originally a crew of 29 seamen, has been released from the Central Somali coast near Harardheere - after a substantial ransom payment.

Local observers confirmed that after a ransom delivery this morning the last pirate left the vessel in the early afternoon today and the vessel sailed now free from the dangerous coast.

EU NAVFOR, which had not been asked to assist in this case, also confirmed the release as did the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

MV THERESA VIII was seized on Nov. 16, 2009 in the southern Somali Basin, north-west of the Seychelles. The 22,294 dwt tanker has now a crew of only 28 North Koreans, since the captain of the tanker had died from gunshot wounds sustained during the hijack.

The main content of the vessel is said to be palm oil but some additional cargo was not clear and obviously has been discharged in the meantime, while the case was shrouded in secrecy. During the negotiations a conflict had also developed among pirates on board and their masterminds on land.

Already several times it was said that the negotiations had concluded and release operations were near, but until last week there was still a conflict among the captors themselves, whom the company broker had tried to divide.

Finally the owner agreed on the higher ransom demand and the delivery as well as the release went successful.

The vessel will arrive in 4-5 days at Mombasa / Kenya.

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