Somali pirates free ship, crew after 7 months

June 08, 2012

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Somali pirates have released a Greek-owned oil and chemical tanker with 21 Filipino crewmembers on board after more than seven months in captivity, the Philippines' SunStar reported.

Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said on Friday (June 8th) that the MT Liquid Velvet had been released on Monday after being held captive since October 31st, 2011.

The tanker is currently sailing toward the Omani port of Salalah. There was no immediate report about whether a ransom was paid.

Somali pirates are still holding 45 Filipino crewmembers hostage on five vessels in the Gulf of Aden, the newspaper reported.

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