ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities said Friday that Somali pirates released a Greek-flagged supertanker captured two months ago off the coast of Oman, while the EU's anti-piracy force said another ship in the same region was hijacked.
The EU Naval Force said that at least 10 pirates boarded the German-owned MV Susan on Friday off East Africa only 35 miles (55 kilometers) south of Oman's coast. The vessel was heading to Sudan from Mumbai, India. The ship had a crew of 10 — six Filipinos and four Ukrainians.
Meanwhile, Greece's Merchant Marine Ministry said that according to the shipowning company, the Irene S.L. and its 25-member crew had been released unharmed and the ship was heading to the port of Durban in South Africa. It did not say whether a ransom had been paid.
Somali pirates had captured the ship and its cargo of 266,000 tons of crude oil on Feb. 9, about 230 miles (370 kilometers) east of Oman. At the time, Greek authorities had said it had a crew of seven Greeks, 17 Filipinos and one Georgian, and had been heading to the Gulf of Mexico.
Pirates have continued their attacks off East Africa despite the presence of a flotilla of international warships. The average ransom paid for a ship and crew is reported to be nearly $5 million. (AP)