Bulgarian Pirate Hostages Safe and Well

The hijacked 32 000-tonne Malaspina Castle had 16 Bulgarian sailors on board. Photo by shipsandharbours.com

The 24 sailors, including 16 Bulgarians, taken hostage Monday by Somali pirates are reported to be safe and well according to the UK newspaper The Times.

Somali pirates hijacked the 32 000-tonne Malaspina Castle, a British-owned cargo ship , which flies a Panamanian flag, on Monday morning in the Gulf of Aden, according to reports.

She was the fifth ship boarded in two days off the Somali coast despite naval patrols along the main shipping lanes in the area.

The vessel has a crew of 24, from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and the Philippines.

Somalia's pirates had been having a quiet year after their bumper haul in 2008, when they took almost 50 vessels.
Pirates are currently holding at least 15 vessels with some 250 crew members.

 

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