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Gunmen free boat, crew
22/06/2007 11:30 - (SA)
Nairobi - Somali pirates have released an
Indian merchant ship after holding it for a month, but four
others were still being held, a maritime official said on
Friday.
The MV Nimatullah, a dhow with 14 Indian crew members and a
cargo of 800 tons seized close to Mogadishu on May 24, was
free and its crew safe, East African Seafarers Assistance
Programme Director Andrew Mwangura said.
"The dhow was released about three days ago, it is currently
offloading its cargo in Kismayu port," Mwangura told Reuters.
Pirates have made Somali waters some of the most dangerous
in the world and another four ships were still being held off
Somalia's coastline, Africa's longest and least policed.
A fishing boat from Taiwan, two from Tanzania and a Danish
cargo ship are still being held. They were seized at various
times.
The Nimatullah's cargo of clothes, sugar, cooking oil,
slippers and cosmetics belong to Somali businessman Sheikh
Saney.
"We believe the gunmen reached a deal with the Somali owner
of the cargo," he told Reuters. He could not confirm if a ransom
demanded by the pirates had been paid, and Saney could not
immediately be reached for comment.
Mwangura said the ship, registered in the United Arab
Emirates, would proceed to Muscat once it had finished
unloading.
Pirates killed one crew member from the Taiwan-flagged
vessel after owners refused to pay a ransom. That is a rare
occurrence with Somali pirates, who more often than not take a
cargo instead of a life if their demands are not met.
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