MV Jahan Moni released by Somali pirates following ransom payment
The Bangladesh bulk carrier, MV Jahan Moni, hijacked by pirates in December 2010, has been released by Somali pirates following the ransom payment of $4million. The 25 crew and the wife of the chief engineer are said to be safe on board the vessel. The prospect of release was reported by Somalia Report in an exclusive report by Andrew Mwangura for SomaliaReport.com (8/3/11).
The general manager of Brave Royal Shipping Management, in speaking to AFP, said "We are relieved now," and further stated that the ship had "just left the Somali coast and headed to Oman." Speaking anonymously, a company executive said they had paid a $4 million ransom to the pirates for the release of the ship and crew.
Hijacked on December 5, 2010, the 26 crew of MV Jahan Moni comprising of 25 Bangladesh nationals with the wife of one of the crew also on board. The vessel was en route from Indonesia, with a cargo of 43,150 tons of nickel ore, heading to Greece via Singapore and through the Suez Canal. Bangladesh-owned and operated, efforts to secure the release of the ship have seen little visible result and has met with repeated assurances that the crew are safe. The pirates had at one stage threatened to kill the 26 crew if the owner failed to meet an earlier mid-February ransom demand.
Over 700 seafarers are held hostage by pirates along the coast of Somalia. Vessels held include yachts, dhows, fishing boats, bulk carriers, general cargo ships, container ships, roll-on-roll-off ships, oil tankers and very large crude oil carriers.
(Image source: SomaliaReport.com)
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