Estonian seaman captured by Somali pirates

Jun 03, 2008
In cooperation with BNS

Photo: Perry Heimer

TALLINN- The Estonian crew member of the German-owned freighter hijacked by pirates off Somalia last Wednesday remains in captivity, the Estonian daily SL Ohtuleht reported.

Lehmann Timber, a ship of the Hans Lehmann fleet of Luebeck, Germany, was intercepted by bandits in a speedboat in the Gulf of Aden near the Somalian coast.

The crew managed to send a distress signal to another ship situated at a distance of 50 kilometers.

Gustav Jakobsen, trustee for Lehmann, said the company was working non-stop to have its people released. There is also a German warship near the Somali coast, which has not yet interfered.

"We’ve communicated with the crew. They're doing all right and the situation is under control," Jakobsen said. He said he did not know the ship's exact location in Somalia's territorial waters or the size of the ransom demand. According to the latest information, the ransom is set at about one million US dollars, the Estonian daily reported.

The ship sails under the flag of Gibraltar and its crew members come from Ukraine, Russia, Estonia and Burma.

The Estonian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the Estonian national works as mate on the vessel. The name of the captive Estonian citizen yet to be released.

The ministry's press secretary Lauri Matsulevitsh said Estonia was permanently in contact with competent international agencies who were working to solve the situation.

The problem of piracy in Somalia is long standing and has skyrocketed since the beginning of this year, with attacks increasing in the last month. Commonly the ransoms have been paid and the attacks are becoming increasingly well organized.

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