Negotiations on kidnapped Russian sailors are in progress

26.05.2010 Started in Saturday, talks on release conditions of Russian crewmembers of MV North Spirit kidnapped off Cameroon are in progress, reported Wednesday RIA Novosti citing Russian Guild of Sailors (RGS) spokesman referred to the shipowner.

"Negotiations are under way. This is a very slow process due to infrequent opportunity to have a phone contact", said the interviewee.

It is uncertain whether conditions of hostage release have been already laid down; however, not to hinder negotiations, such information is normally disclosed only when hostages are free.

Pirates attacked MV North Spirit (flag of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, operated by Balthellas Chartering S.A.) with Russian and Ukrainian crew on board on May 16 near Cameroonian port Douala. Two crewmembers were kidnapped – shipmaster Boris Tersintsev, resident of Vladivostok, and chief engineer Igor Shumik, native of Arkhangelsk. The shipmaster got on for contact with the shipmaster and informed they had been in Nigeria.

Last week it was reported that another sailor kidnapped at the same time near port of Douala – shipmaster of Lithuanian refrigerator Argo (belonging to Limarko) – was also in Nigeria along with kidnapped crewmen of North Spirit.