Somali Pirates Release Belgium Ship

The Pompei was hijacked on April 18 some 150km north of the Seychelles. Photo by BGNES

Somali pirates have released a Belgian dredging ship, the Pompei, and its crew two months after they were captured, the Belgian prime minister has said.

No details were given about the release of the MV Pompei, whose crew includes a Dutch captain, two Belgians, three Filipinos and four Croats, the BBC reported

"We were... informed that the entire crew is in good health," Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy, said in a statement.

The Pompei was hijacked on April 18 some 150km north of the Seychelles.

The Pompei was the first Belgian ship to be seized by Somali pirates.

Last week, a Dutch cargo ship was released after being held by Somali pirates since early May. One Ukrainian sailor was shot dead and eight other crew members injured.

The release of the Pompei brings the number of ships still held by pirates down to 12, with a total of some 200 crew.

Earlier this month, EU ministers agreed to extend an anti-piracy operation - known as Atalanta - off the Horn of Africa until the end of 2010.

 

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