Somali pirates have released a German-flagged container vessel after receiving a ransom, pirates and a maritime official said.
"We are now in Haradheere town. We left the ship after we took the money," a pirate named Hassan told Reuters by telephone. "I believe it has sailed away."
The pirates said earlier today they had received a $2.7 million ransom for the Hansa Stavanger, which was seized with its 24 crew in April about 600 kilometres off the southern Somali port of Kismayu on April 4th.
Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarer's Association confirmed the release of the ship and its crew. "That's what we heard ... (the ship) is heading north,” he said.
The ship’s crew is made up of five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos.
The release of the 20,000 tonne ship, owned by Hamburg shipping company Leonhardt & Blumberg, was expected last week but it was delayed after the pirates demanded a higher ransom.
Earlier, a Malaysian-owned tugboat held for over seven months was released with its 11 Indonesian crew after a ransom was paid.
Gangs of Somali pirates in the shipping lanes linking Asia and Europe have made millions of dollars in ransom payments from ships hijacked in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.