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Hijacked Emirati ship may be released soon

The Khaleej Times has learnt negotiations between the pirates representatives and representatives of the ship owners are taking place in Gann, a Somalian village 400km north of the capital, Mogadishu.

According to reports from Somalia, the Lin 1 was sailing towards North East part of Somalian territorial waters from an unknown village between El Maan port and Obyo, yesterday morning.

Speaking by telephone from Nairobi, Andrew Mwangura, of the Seafarers Assistance Programme, said: "We received information that the vessel is sailing towards North East of Somalian territorial waters yesterday morning. We do not know whether the vessel has been released already. All we know is the negotiation was going on and possibly the vessel will be released soon."

"The local shipping agents and Somali businessman have been negotiating with the pirates representatives. The 19 member Filipino crew of the vessel are still safe and on board," he disclosed.

Akron Trade and Transport of Fujairah, managers of the Lin 1, refused to comment on the report.

Somali pirates hijacked the Panamian flagged fuel tanker on March 29. Gunmen stormed the vessel carrying AK 47 machine guns as the ship left El Ade port after off-loading a cargo of fuel. The pirates demanded a ransom thought to be in the region of $400,000. On April 15, the pirates killed one of the Somali negotiating with them for the release of the oil tanker, stalling mediation efforts.

The negotiator was gunned down in broad day light in Gann, a coastal town of Gann some 18 km north of Haradhera district.

Meanwhile, there has been no new information on the fate of the MV Julia 54, another cargo vessel hijacked by Somali pirates.

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