Somali pirates release Hong Kong`s Anglo-Eastern ship held since August

THE Hong Kong-managed 26,350-ton chemical carrier Fairchem Bogey and its crew, have been released by Somali pirates after being held for ransom in August while at anchor off Oman, Indian authorities have announced.

The Marshall Islands-flagged ship was said to be proceeding to safe port under Indian naval escort, announced India`s Directorate General of Shipping. It had an Indian crew of 21.


The ship, managed by Anglo-Eastern Group of Wanchai, was hijacked near Salalah, Oman. "We cannot at the moment disclose the port where the ship is headed or any details on the terms of release," an Anglo-Eastern source told Reuters. "The crew will be back home by the end of the week."


No details have been given about the sum paid. The last ransom paid was reportedly US$7 million, almost double the usual amount and seven times the amount paid when Somali piracy began in 2006-07.


Curiously, the ship was taken at anchor after discharging its cargo and its armed guards in compliance with local regulations, six nautical miles off the Omani coast when Somali pirates struck evading a warships boats on a heavily patrolled waterway.