MT Smyrni and 26 Crew Released By Somali Pirates
The owners and managers of MT Smyrni are delighted to report that the MT Smyrni has been released after ten months in the captivity of Somali pirates.
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MT Smyrni and 26 Crew Released by Pirates. Image: MarineTraffic.com
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All of the 26 crew are reported safe and well, and the vessel is proceeding to a port of refuge, believed to be Salalah, Oman.
Hijacked 11 May 2012 in the Arabian Sea off Oman, the owners, Dynacom Tankers Management Ltd. of Greece, and managers of the Liberia-flagged MT Smyrni would like to take this opportunity to thank the crew, their families, their employees and those agencies that have supported them throughout this long ordeal.
After being informed of the release, and fresh from providing assistance to chemical tanker MT Royal Grace, ESPS Mendez Nunez was tasked to closely monitor MT Smyrni as she moved away from the pirate anchorage. EUNAVFOR German and Spanish P-3 maritime patrol aircraft also provided reconnaissance support overhead.
Early in the morning, Monday 11 March, a private security team was tasked by the ship’s owner to protect the vessel as she proceeded north to Salalah.
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MT Smyrni Monitored by EU Warship. Image: eunavfor
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"We took $9.5 million in ransom money and got off from the crude tanker on Friday night," Isse Abdulahi, who is understood to be one of four pirates who financed the hijacking operation, told Reuters by telephone. He also claimed that two crew members were ill, according to Reuters.
The owners and managers of MT Smyrni do not expect to make any further statements on this matter.
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