Somali pirates have released the M/T Liquid Velvet and its crew of 21 Filipino nationals after reportedly collecting $4 million in ransom. The vessel was officially released on Tuesday, June 5
The Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker was hijacked on October 31, 2011 while transiting the Gulf of Aden from Suez to India. During the attack, eight armed pirates aboard a skiff were able to overpower the unarmed “security advisor” hired by the owners of the vessel, Athens-based Elmira Tankers, to protect the vessel.
The vessel again made headlines in January when it was sent out as a mothership to launch attacks on other vessels. Pirates originally demanded $8 million for the vessel.
Somali pirates currently hold eight vessels including the Iceberg 1, which has been held for over 2 years, according to data from the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence,
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