Russian Expert: Somali Pirates Set to Negotiate with Bulgaria Govt

Voitenko, speaking to PRO.BG on Thursday said that even though the MV Panega was empty when it was hijacked it is unlikely that it will be given back soon. Photo by EU Navfor

The 15 Bulgarian sailors are unlikely to be released soon by the Somali pirates that hijacked Tuesday the Bulgarian-flagged ship, MV Panega, according to Mikhail Voitenko, ex Editor-in-Chief of the Russian publication “Sovfrakht Maritime Bulletin.”

Voitenko, speaking to PRO.BG on Thursday said that even though the MV Panega was empty when it was hijacked it is unlikely that it will be given back soon. He added that the pirates are likely to enter in to negotiations with the Bulgarian government in an attempt to get more ransom money.

Regarding the other ships that have been hijacked by the pirates with Bulgarian sailors on board, Voitenko said it is likely that the St James Park will be released soon but that he holds little hope of the same happening to the Asian Glory, as “for an unexplained reason the pirates seem to really like the ship.”

Earlier Thursday, the former Bulgarian state-owned sea company Navigation Maritime Bulgare, which is the official operator of the chemical tanker MV Panega, announced Thursday that there's been no development on the negotiations with the Somali pirates as they have been unable to get in touch with the hijackers.

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