Estonian seaman captured by Somali pirates

TALLINN- The Estonian crew member of the German-owned freighter hijacked bypirates 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 interceptedby bandits in a speedboat in the Gulf of Aden near theSomalian coast.

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

Gustav Jakobsen, trustee for Lehmann, said the company was working non-stop tohave 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 thesituation is under control," Jakobsen said. He said he did not know theship's exact location in Somalia'sterritorial waters or the size of the ransom demand. According to the latestinformation, the ransom is set at about one million US dollars, the Estonian daily reported.

The ship sails under the flag of Gibraltar and itscrew members come from Ukraine,Russia, Estoniaand Burma.

The Estonian Foreign Ministryhas confirmed that the Estoniannational 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 Estoniawas permanently in contact with competent international agencies who wereworking to solve the situation.

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