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Somali pirates release Greek-owned ship, 21 crew
Somali pirates have released a Greek-owned ship and its 21 crew members, including 14 Filipinos, after more than a month in captivity, the Philippine government and the ship's owner said on Friday.
Somali pirates have released a Greek-owned ship and its 21 crew members, including 14 Filipinos, after more than a month in captivity, the Philippine government and the ship's owner said on Friday.
The embassy of the Philippines in Nairobi reported that the MV Delvina was heading to Mombasa with its crew, who were safe and in good health.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Ed Malaya said the ship, seized on November 5, was released around 2 (1800 GMT). "All the crew are reported unharmed and are well despite their 43-day ordeal," the ship's owner, Meadway Shipping & Trading Inc, said in a statement in Athens, Greece.
The company did not give any other details about the ship's release, including whether a ransom was paid.
It said it did not want to jeopardise the safety of other ships and crew still being held by pirates.
The Philippine government's statement said 53 Filipino sailors on four ships were still being held by the pirates.
More than 340 others have been freed since 2006. Filipinos account for about 30 per cent of the world's 1.2 million merchant sailors. Even after the release, pirates still hold at least 10 ships and more than 200 crew members.
