Global General

Somali pirates release Greek cargo ship

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-12-11 00:23

ATHENS -- Greek cargo ship "Ariana" which was seized by Somali pirates on May 2 this year was released on Thursday afternoon near Somalia's Hobyo port, announced the ship's owner, the All Oceans Shipping company.

"All crew members are in good health, which was very important for us and all pirates have left the ship," Spiros Minas, director of the Greek shipping company, told Xinhua.

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Minas confirmed that a ransom had been paid, but declined to reveal the amount, stressing that it was "out of respect to other ships and sailors who are still held by Somali pirates in the area. "

The Malta-flagged "Ariana" was carrying 35,000 tonnes of soya from Brazil to the Middle East, when it was attacked northeast of Seychelles.

Last month pirates said that an agreement had been reached on releasing the ship for 3.5 million euros, but in the last minute negotiations fell out.
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