CEO of a shipping firm running a bulk carrier loaded with coal, which had been hijacked by Somali pirates while on its way from Mozambique to the UAE, has said that all 23 crew members aboard the Abdullah have been freed.
The vessel’s captors released the Abdullah after the ship's Bangladeshi owners reportedly paid a ransom of $5 million (€4.7 million), Meherul Karim of KSRM has confirmed.
Karim addressed reporters in Chittagong, Bangladesh, detailing the negotiation process with the pirates.
"The pirates contacted us near the Somali coast," he explained.
"We engaged in discussions until reaching an agreement. However, we will not disclose the exact ransom amount."
According to Agence France Press, an aeroplane dropped three sacks containing US dollars onto the vessel.
Reuters also reported the $5m ransom, citing statements from two of the Somali pirates involved.
The bulk carrier was transporting over 55 000 tonnes of coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates when it was seized by pirates approximately 550 nautical miles (more than 1000 kilometres) off the Somali coast a month earlier.
Following the ransom payment, about 65 pirates departed the ship on nine boats.
The Abdullah then resumed its journey to the UAE under the escort of two European Union ships, as stated by Karim.
Karim also mentioned that the pirates had provided the crew with a written assurance in Somali, promising safe passage without further pirate attacks until reaching the Dubai port.
