Singapore: Somali pirates have released a
palm-oil tanker of a Singapore shipper, along with 21 seamen
but have kept back four South Korean crew members of the ship
including its captain, the firm said.
Somali pirates have released 21 seamen and a ship that was
hijacked 215 days ago off Africa, Singapore's Glory Ship
Management Pte Ltd said.
But the pirates have not released four South Korean crew
members of the ship, including the captain, said Glory, the
management company of the released vessel MT Gimini.
The seamen and the ship were freed on November 30.
The freed seamen, 13 from Indonesia, five from China, and
three from Myanmar, were not ill-treated and would undergo
medical checkups, said Glory.
"We are expending all efforts to secure the release of the
four South Koreans still held as hostage," said Glory, adding
that the pirates have not kept their earlier promises of
releasing all crew.
MT Gemini, registered in Singapore, was hijacked after it
sailed out of Kuala Tanjong, a port in Sumatra, on April 6.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 01, 2011, 15:43