Pirates release Estonian and ship

Jul 09, 2008
Monika Hanley in cooperation with BNS

Photo: Perry Heimer

TALLINN- The Estonian Foreign Minister announced that the Somali pirates released the crew of the hijacked ship Lehmann Timber.

The crew of the Lehmann Timber, hijacked off the Somalian coast, was released late July 8. One of the hostages was an Estonian citizen.

The ship was in international waters and the company was attempting to put the crew on shore as soon as possible and to give them the necessary assistance.

The Foreign Ministry is ready to give  assistance to bring the Estonian citizen home as soon as possible, the ministry spokeswoman said.

There were 15 people on board the hijacked ship, including four Ukrainian citizens, three Russians, four Panamanians and one Estonian - Ardo Kalle.

The Foreign Ministry announced the release of the crew just a few hours after it had refuted a report by the Ukrainian publication Segodnya according to which the pirates released the crew of the Lehmann Timber after being paid the ranson. Sources claim that an unidentified shipping agency helped pay the ransom, as the crews health was in danger.

Although the size of the ransom has not officially been mentioned, Segodya reported that the pirates had demanded 750,000 dollars for the hostages' release.

The pirates seized the Lehmann Timber, sailing under the Gibraltarflag, on May 28. The ship was launched in Chinain April and it was on its maiden voyage to Europe via the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar.

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

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