North Korean crew freed following $3.5m ransom

Nairobi: A chemical tanker seized by Somali pirates has been released. The European Union's anti-piracy naval force reports an apparent ransom was paid to release the vessel and its 28 North Korean crew members.

The Singapore operated but Virgin Islands-owned MV Theresa VIII was taken by pirates on November 17 about 180 miles northwest of the Seychelles. The vessel, flying under a Kiribati flag, had been heading for Mombasa, Kenya, when it was hijacked.

Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Assistance Program reported the ransom was about $3.5 million.

(Source: Transport Weekly)