Bulgaria Foreign Ministry: Pirates Have Freed UK Ship

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry has finally confirmed the release by the Somali pirates of the hijacked UK-flagged tanker that carries 5 Bulgarians on board. Photo by BGNES/ EPA

The EU Naval Force Somalia – Operation Atalanta has confirmed that the UK-flagged tanker has been freed by the Somali pirates, said Friday morning the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Vesela Cherneva explained that the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry has been informed that the Somali pirates have released the hijacked British ship, Saint James Park which carries 26 crew members, five of whom Bulgarians, but have no clear data as to the vessel's movements.

“We will give more information once the ship is out of the 600-mile zone and officially free,” added Cherneva.

Early Friday morning the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS informed that the UK-flagged chemical tanker has been released by its Somali hijackers after a ransom had been paid. The exact amount of the money, however, has not been announced.

The Bulgarian-flagged chemical tanker MV Panega was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden Tuesday night despite the fact that it was a part of a EU Navfor Somalia convoy.

So far the negotiation team of the ship's official operator, Navigation Maritime Bulgare, had been unabale to get in contact with hijackers and discusss their demands.

With the hijacking of the MV Panega, a total of 28 Bulgarian sailors are in held hostage by Somali pirates.

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