Pirates in Somalia have released 20 Filipino seamen kidnapped by
them in Marchk, Kenya' maritime authorities confirmed on
Monday.
Andrew Mwangura, program coordinator of Seafarers Assistance
Program said in a statement that the kidnapped Filipinos were on
their way home.
Mwangura said that it was not clear whether any ransom had been
paid for the release of the captives who were freed on
Saturday.
"It is not yet known if any ransom money have been paid for the
release of the Panama flagged oil tanker MT Lin 1 and her crew," he
said.
The Somali pirates were initially demanding US$450,000 ransom
from the ship owners for its release but the amount was later
raised to US$1 million before reducing it again to US$500,000 .
"We are informed that the ship owners are sending a sister ship
of the vessel to escort her accompanied by US Naval ships," he
added.
The men were seized after their oil tanker, the United Arab
Emirates-registered MT Lin 1, unloaded its cargo at a port in
southern Somalia on March 29.
According to Mwangura, the owners of the ship, who were not
identified, negotiated for the release of the men. No other details
were provided.
"The oil tanker is expected to call Port Sharjah in the next
three days, Mwangura said.
Piracy in Somalia rose sharply last year, with the number of
reported incidents at 42, compared with two in 2004, according to
the International Maritime Bureau. The bandits target both
passenger and cargo vessels for ransom or loot.
(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2006)
