Somali pirates released Greek supertanker

19.01.2010 Source: RIA Novosti, photo: Maran Centaurus (chinadaily.com.cn)

Somali pirates released Greek supertanker Maran Centaurus, informed Monday RIA Novosti referring to representative of Greek Coast Guard.

"Really, the tanker is released", said the interviewee. She refused to comment information of the ransom.

The supertanker with 275,000 tonnes of oil was captured by pirates 800 km off Seychelles on Nov 29. The ship's crew is 28, including two Ukrainians, nine Greeks, sixteen Filipinos and one Romanian.

Last Sunday, on Jan 17, an airplane dropped ransom on the tanker; Reuters appraised the sum as $5.5-7 mln.

According to representative of Greek Coast Guard, tanker is heading for Republic of South Africa for refueling. All crewmen feel well. The tanker belongs to Greek Kristen Navigation Inc and initially sailed from Saudi Arabia to the U.S.

Efthimios Mitropoulos, Secretary General of International Maritime Organization has previously warned that hijacking of supertanker by pirates might invite ecological disaster.