Russia confirms Somali pirates free tanker with Russian onboard
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The Russian Foreign Ministry officially confirmed on Monday that Somali pirates have released the Norwegian-owned chemical tanker Bow Asir with a Russian crewmember onboard, RIA Novosti reports.
"According to reports from Russian embassies in Kenya and Norway, Somali pirates have released the Bow Asir tanker, seized on March 26," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The Bahamas-flagged vessel with 27 crewmembers - a Norwegian captain and Russian first officer, as well as 19 Filipinos, five Poles, and one Lithuanian - was captured some 500 km (250 nautical miles) east of the port of Kismayo in southern Somalia.
It was released on Friday after the owners paid a ransom, the Norway Post newspaper reported, adding that the pirates had demanded $2.4 million.