Pirates to Ask USD 2 M Ransom for Hijacked Bulgarian Sailors - Report

The Somali pirates, who kidnapped a British-owned cargo ship with Bulgarian sailors aboard, are likely to ask a ransom ranging from USD 1,5 M - USD 2 M, Darik radio reported.

A source from Somalia's neighbouring country, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pirates are expected to voice their demands via a London lawyer's office or a Kenya-based company.

The skipper of the ship that was hijacked Monday by Somali pirates is a Bulgarian citizen from the Black Sea city of Varna. The crew consists of 24 people, 16 of them Bulgarians, mostly form the coastal cities of Varna and Burgas.

Darik radio announced the skipper's name as Darin Mateev Drumev, who was born in the city of Sliven, but now lives in Varna. He is a former submarine commander and the last commander of the submarine division of the Bulgarian Navy. The names of the other Bulgarian hostages are yet unknown.

The 32,000-tonne Malaspina Castle, which flies a Panamanian flag, was taken on Monday morning in the Gulf of Aden. She was the fifth ship snatched in two days off the Somali coast despite naval patrols along main shipping lanes.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!