Dubai: Somali Pirates Release Bangladesh-Flagged Vessel After Ransom Paid
In a daring maritime saga, Somali pirates have finally released the Bangladesh-flagged MV Abdullah and its 23-member crew after a hefty ransom was reportedly handed over.
The MV Abdullah, laden with coal on its journey from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), fell victim to hijacking off the treacherous waters of Somalia about a month ago.
Reports suggest that the pirates managed to secure a staggering $5 million (£4 million) as ransom for the release of the vessel, although this claim remains unverified by independent sources.
The surge in hijackings off the coast of Somalia has sent shockwaves through the maritime community in recent months, with over a dozen vessels being targeted since late November.
Security analysts attribute this alarming trend to a security void that has emerged off Somalia’s coastline, as foreign naval forces have shifted their focus to the Red Sea amidst escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebel group on ships.
From 2005 to 2012, pirates operating in the Horn of Africa region amassed a jaw-dropping sum ranging from $339 million to $413 million by seizing crew members as hostages and demanding hefty ransom payments, as estimated by the World Bank.
According to Reuters news agency, two pirates disclosed that a whopping $5 million ransom was indeed paid for the liberation of MV Abdullah and its crew.
“We meticulously verified the authenticity of the money before dividing it into groups and discreetly departing to evade government forces,” recounted one of the pirates, Abdirashiid Yusuf, to Reuters.
The vessel’s owner, the KSRM Group, confirmed that negotiations resulted in the eventual release of the vessel and its crew.
“We reached a settlement with the pirates,” remarked Mizanul Islam of SR Shipping, the maritime wing of the group, in a statement to AFP news agency.
“Details regarding the ransom amount are sensitive,” he added, reassuring that “all crew members are unharmed and secure.” The MV Abdullah has since set sail towards the UAE under the escort of two warships. — BBC
