Two ships relased by Somalia pirates after ransoms paid

Two ships relased by Somalia pirates after ransoms paid

2010-11-07 13:35:06 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (BNO NEWS) -- Two ships were released by Somali pirates on Saturday after being held for several months, apparently after ransoms were paid, officials and media reports said.

"The Singapore-flagged MV Golden Blessing was confirmed released from under pirate control, the European Union Naval Force Somalia (EUNAVFOR) said on Saturday.

The ship, with 19 Chinese sailors onboard, was pirated on June 28 about 60 nautical miles (112 kilometers) off the northern coast of Somalia.

It is was not clear if a ransom was paid but, according to CNN, Andrew Mwangura, programs coordinator of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Program, a ransom of about $7 million was paid.

Meanwhile, South Korea's state-run Yonhap news agency reported that a South Korean oil tanker, the Samho Dream, and its 24 crew members were also release on Saturday. They had been hijacked since April 4.

According to Mwangura, the South Koreans paid $9.5 million.

"Samho Dream was released around 11 p.m. and is headed to a safe zone in a third country, escorted by the South Korean Navy ship Wanggeon," a foreign ministry official said, Yonhap reported.

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