Thursday, July 10th, 2008

German cargo ship held captive for 41 days off the coast of Somalia is released and all aboard were reported safe and unharmed.

The MV LEHMANN TIMBERS' owners, Lehmann GmbH Shipping, have reportedly paid pirates a large ransom in exchange for the release of the crew and vessel. The company said the ship was sailing for a safe port a day after the ship was freed. The captain and 15 crew members appear to be in good health, but the company will provide medical checkups and the crew allowed to rest.

Company officials said that the M/V Lehmann Timber was said bound for Suez when Somali pirates seized the ship in the Gulf of Aden and ordered the crew to sail to Eyl, Somalia.

The waters off Somalia,without effective central government oversight since 1991, are considered by some to be the most dangerous in the world and have the highest rate of piracy. Heavily-armed pirates usually target cargo ships and luxury yachts.

A Somali official said the shipping company paid the pirates $750,000 for the release of the crew and vessel. The ransom was delivered by ship to the 18 pirates, who were armed with AK-47s and heavy machine guns.

The ship's owners said they are "delighted that the incident has been resolved and that the crew are safe and well". The vessel was one of two which had been hijacked on May 30 off the Horn of Africa.


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