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Pirates free 18 Filipino sailors, Greek captain
Inquirer Global Nation, March 01, 2010
BRUSSELS, Belgium(AFP)—Somali pirates on Sunday released a Greek-owned freighter and its crew of 19, captured two months ago, after receiving a ransom payment, the European Union’s naval force announced.
"EU Navfor can now confirm that the Greek-owned, Panama-flagged bulk carrier the Navios Apollon that was hijacked on the 28th of December has been released this morning of 28 February," the mission's headquarters said in a statement.
The release of the 52,000-ton ship, its Greek captain, and 18 Filipino crew members came the day after an unspecified ransom was paid to the pirates.
It was the second such ransom drop and release in days, with governments and companies in a dilemma over the need to recover their ships and crews amid fears that ransoms encourage further piracy.
Britain warned early this month that ransom payments could encourage more kidnaps, but denied blocking an independent negotiator from trying to agree a price for a British couple held hostage in Somalia since October 23.
Commander John Harbour, Navfor chief spokesman, told AFP that the European Union, like the United Nations, was not in favor of paying ransoms but understood the motives of those who do.
"I think the European Union Naval force, or the European Union, works with the United Nations on its stance on the paying of ransoms, which is very much against," he said.
But the EU "understands the great difficulties when lives are involved and understands third parties wishing to pay ransoms in order to secure the release of people whose lives are under threat," Harbour added.
The freed Greek ship, which had been hijacked in the Indian Ocean while en route to Thailand, was on its way to Oman, Navfor said.
The Greek coast guard in Athens confirmed to AFP "the vessel is currently heading for Oman, with India as its final destination."
"Its 19-strong crew is in good health," the spokeswoman added.
The ship originally carried a cargo of fertilizer but it was not clear if it was still on board, she added.
Somali pirates, targeting one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes, raked in an estimated $60 million in ransoms last year.
After the latest releases, they still hold four vessels and 99 seafarers, according to Navfor's Harbour.
The EU Navfor Atalanta mission is tasked with escorting merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid and to protect vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
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