Poland’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the crew of the Norwegian chemical tanker with five Poles onboard kidnapped by Somali pirates has been freed. Initial press reports have indicated that a ransom of 1.8 million euros has been paid for their release. According to the ministry spokesman, Piotr Paszkowski, the crew including also a Norwegian captain, 19 Filipinos, a Russian and a Lithuanian is unharmed. The news reached Poland's Embassy in Oslo last night. "The ship-owner has confirmed that all the crew members are safe and sound.  The ship is currently aiming for the international waters. We are expecting it to call at the Kenyan port of Mombasa on Monday morning" said Paszkowski. 

The Polish Embassy in Nairobi is in close contact with the Embassy in Oslo in order to offer the Polish sailors all the necessary help once they arrive in Kenya.

Norwegian vessel “Bow Asir”  was captured by Somali pirates on March 26 some 300 miles off the coast of Somalia.