Friday, November 28, 2008
They also freed a Greek freighter held since September, leaving 17 ships still in their hands despite their shrinking room for manouevre as foreign warships stepped up their efforts to contain a scourge threatening world trade.
Five pirates on fishing boats attacked the Biscaglia, a Liberia-flagged oil and chemical tanker, and boarded the vessel with a ladder, the commander of a nearby French frigate, Nivose, told AFP.
Three crew were fished out by a German navy helicopter after they jumped overboard to escape the pirates, said Jean-Marc Le Quilliec. The three rescued crewmen were later brought on board the Nivose.
The French frigate was escorting a Panamanian-flagged Norwegian bulk carrier and had attracted in its wake at least 17 other ships seeking protection but the Liberian tanker had stayed its course.
On Thursday, pirates also freed the Maltese-flagged Greek ship MV Centauri hijacked two months ago in the Indian Ocean, Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers Association told AFP.
The Centauri, with an all-Filipino crew, was seized on September 18 about 320 kilometres south of Somalia's lawless capital Mogadishu.
"The ship was freed yesterday along with the crew. It is on its way to Mombasa," (Kenya's main port), said Mr Mwangura, adding that it was unclear whether any ransom was paid.
Manila confirmed that all 26 Filipino mariners on the ship were free and in good health.
Last week, pirates released another Greek ship captured a week after the Centauri, leaving one Greek vessel still in captivity, but Mr Mwangura said talks were under way to free it.
The pirates are still holding the giant Saudi oil tanker Sirius Star which they hijacked on November 15 and have demanded $US25 million ($A38.0 million) by tomorrow to free the vessel
With European, US and other navy ships rushing to the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, international shipping companies are hoping safe corridors can guarantee continued use of the shortest route between Asia and Europe.
The capture of the 330-metre Sirius Star, carrying two million barrels of oil, sent shockwaves through the shipping world and prompted some companies to re-route via the Cape of Good Hope.
The detour adds at least three weeks and significant extra costs.
The leader of the group which has been holding the Sirius Star off the port of Harardhere earlier in the week reiterated a warning that failure to pay the ransom would have "disastrous" consequences.
The chairman of Lloyd's insurance said in a recent interview that it was "highly likely" the owners of the Sirius Star would pay up.
Lord Peter Levene told Channel Four News television: "At the end of the day there is no alternative, if you don't want lives to be lost."
Undeterred by international pledges of tough action since the super-tanker was captured, the pirates have continued to roam Somalia's waters and beyond, seizing half-a-dozen ships over the past two weeks.
Last week, an Indian navy ship appeared to have dealt a blow to the pirates by sinking what was believed to be one of the "mother ships" of the smaller speedboats from which the attacks are launched.
But the International Maritime Bureau this week said it had found the destroyed ship was a Thai fishing boat that had been taken by pirates and was not hostile.
India said the frigate Tabar ship had been fired on and responded, but the IMB said one Thai crew member died in the Indian shelling and 14 others were missing.
Source: AFP, Nov 28, 2008