Somali pirates have freed the earlier captured tanker Biscaglia, with 28 crewmembers, the AFP news agency announced on Friday citing the nongovernment organization Ecoterra International. The tanker was sailing under the Liberian flag.
The Biscaglia, which was loaded with palm oil, was hijacked November 28th last year in the Gulf of Aden. The ship had 28 crewmembers on board, amongst them 25 Indians, 3 Bangladeshi, as well as three security guards (2 Britons and an Irishman), who jumped overboard when the pirates attacked.
“After the conclusion of an agreement yesterday (Thursday) at 15:00 local time (15:00 MSk), the tanker Biscaglia sailing under the Liberian flag was freed,” Ecoterra International announced in a news release.
The release contained no mention of a ransom or lack of it.
The company operating the tanker is located in Singapore, and its owner is registered in the Marshal Islands, the agency said.
Somali pirates still hold hostage 15 ships, with approximately 250 people on board.