5 Somali pirates drown with share of ransom money
after releasing Saudi [
VELA]
SUPERtanker
By MOHAMED OLAD HASSAN Associated Press Writer
MOGADISHU, Somalia January 10, 2009 (AP)
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=6617076
<<Five of the pirates who hijacked a Saudi supertanker drowned with
their share of a $3 million ransom, a relative said Saturday, the day
after the bundle of cash was apparently dropped by parachute onto the
deck of the ship. The Sirius Star and its 25 crew sailed safely away
Friday at the end of a two-month standoff in the Gulf of Aden, where
pirates attacked over 100 ships last year. Hundreds more kidnapped
sailors remain in the hands of pirates.
The drowned pirates' boat overturned in rough seas, and family members
were still looking for four missing bodies, said Daud Nure, another
pirate who knew the men involved.
Somalia's lawless coastline borders one of the world's busiest
shipping lanes, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea to
the Indian Ocean. Attacks have continued despite the patrols by
warships from France, Germany, Britain, America, India and China.
The naval coalition has been closely monitoring both the Sirius Star
and the Faina, a Ukrainian ship loaded with military tanks that has
been held since September. The seizure of the Sirius Star on Nov. 15
prompted fears that the pirates might release some of the cargo of
crude oil into the ocean, causing an environmental disaster as a way
of pressuring negotiators. At the time, the oil was valued at $100
million.
Abukar Haji, uncle of one of the dead pirates, blamed the naval
surveillance for the accident that killed his pirate nephew Saturday.
"The boat the pirates were traveling in capsized because it was
running at high speed because the pirates were afraid of an attack
from the warships patrolling around," he said. "There has been human
and monetary loss but what makes us feel sad is that we don't still
have the dead bodies of our relatives. Four are still missing and one
washed up on the shore."
Pirate Daud Nure said three of the eight passengers had managed to
swim to shore after the boat overturned in rough seas. He was not part
of the pirate operation but knew those involved. "Here in Haradhere
the news is grim, relatives are looking for their dead," he said.
The tanker had left Somali territorial waters and was on its way home
Saturday, said Saudi Arabian oil minister Ali Naimi. A Saudi Oil
Ministry official said the ship was headed for Dammam, on the
country's Gulf coast, but gave no estimated time of arrival. The
official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized
to speak to the press.
The U.S. Navy, which announced this week it will head a new anti-
piracy task force, released photos Friday showing a parachute,
carrying what was described as "an apparent payment," floating down
toward the tanker.
The Liberian-flagged ship is owned by Vela International Marine Ltd.,
a subsidiary of Saudi oil company Aramco. Neither commented on the
reported ransom drop. "All the crew members are safe and I am glad to
say that they are all in good health and high spirits," said a
statement by Saleh K'aki, president and CEO of Vela. "Throughout this
ordeal, our sole objective was the safe and timely release of the
crew. That has been achieved today."
.
But over a dozen ships and around 300 crew members are still being
held. The capture of the Sirius Star has already demonstrated the
pirates' ability to strike high value targets hundreds of miles
offshore.
.
On the same day the Saudi ship was freed, pirates released a captured
Iranian-chartered cargo ship, Iran's state television reported
Saturday. The ship Delight was carrying 36 tons of wheat when it was
attacked in the Gulf of Aden Nov. 18 and seized by pirates. All 25
crew are in good health and the vessel is sailing toward Iran, the TV
report said. It did not say if a ransom was paid.>>