Somali pirates released Greek cargo ship with Ukrainian crew

28.09.2010 Pirates released Ukrainian-crewed cargo ship Lugela, reported Monday RIA Novosti referring to the shipowner's representative.

According to him, the ship captured on Saturday was released not later than on Sunday.

"The shipmaster contacted us and said pirates had left the ship. The vessel heads for the destination port; nobody of crewmembers suffered", said the interviewee.

He affirmed that the crew consists of 12 Ukrainians, although refused to report any details of the ship release.

Dry cargo ship Lugela was hijacked on Saturday 900 miles eastward Somali coast. The Panamanian-flagged vessel was sailing from Egypt to Mauritius with the cargo of iron.

According to Ukrainian deputy foreign minister Ruslan Demchenko, when pirates attacked the ship, Ukrainian crewmen disabled ship's mechanisms, took drinking water supplies, and locked themselves in machinery compartment. So, pirates could not direct the vessel to Somalia, said Demchenko.

"Having spent almost two days on uncontrolled vessel, pirates left it in the night of Sept 27. Health status of our compatriots is normal", said the press service of Ukrainian foreign ministry on Monday.

The ship continues the cruise.