photo - east news

Somali pirates have freed the seven-man crew of the German freighter Beluga Nomination, including the Polish captain, abducted on 22 January. The ship is now on its way to Mombasa.

The crew had consisted of 12 sailors although two escaped but three were killed after the pirates boarded the ship near the coast of the Seychelles.

The 9,775 tonnes MV Beluga Nomination flies the flag of Antigua and Barbuda but is operated by Beluga Fleet Management GmbH in Germany.

The prates claim that the German owners had a 5 million USD ransom. "We have received $5 million early this morning. Now we have totally abandoned the ship with its seven crew members behind," Reuters reports a statement by the pirates as saying.

The Bremen-based Beluga shipping company refused to comment on whether a ransom had been paid, however.

Earlier this month, the 37,000 tonne UAE-registered MV Arrilah, which also had a Polish captain was freed from the grasp of pilots by UAE commandos. (pg)