Ghana Pundit: Nigerian vessel released after months

Nairobi - Somali pirates have freed a Nigerian tugboat captured around 10 months ago, putting an end to the longest such hijacking off the coast of Somalia, a maritime watchdog said on Saturday.

"Yenegoa Ocean is free," said Andrew Mwangura, who heads the Nairobi-based East African Seafarers Assistance Programme.

The ship - owned by Nigerian ESL Integrated Services - and its 11-man Nigerian crew were captured in the Gulf of Aden on August 4, 2008, on its way back from Singapore where it had undergone repairs.

According to a Dutch defence ministry statement, the boat was freed at 6pm on Friday and is being escorted by the Dutch frigate De Zeven Provincien towards Yemen.

"De Zeven Provincien is currently escorting the Yenegoa Ocean after a hijacking by Somali pirates that lasted 10 months," the statement said, adding the navy ship was instructed last night to head for the released tugboat.

"At around 5.30 am, the (Dutch) unit secured the Yenegoa Ocean. De Zeven Provincien is providing logistical and medical assistance to the crew and is escorting the ship to safety," it said.

Foreign ships hijacked by Somali pirates have rarely been held longer than four or five months in the worst cases, but the Yenegoa Ocean had remained in limbo for months, with talks for its release seemingly at a standstill.

Negotiations intensified in recent weeks, notably with the involvement of a Somali advocacy organisation based in Minnesota and also the captain's family.

A ransom is believed to have been paid, although its amount was not immediately known.

Sources close to the pirates in Somalia's northern breakaway region of Puntland - where the oil field tugboat was held - confirmed the release.

Concerning the Nigerian crew members, Dutch defence ministry spokesperson Robin Middel told reporters: "Because they were held for a long time, the state of their health has deteriorated."

At last count 14 ships are still being held by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, together with more than 200 seamen, almost a fourth of them Filipinos.

According to Ecoterra International, an environmentalist non-governmental organisation monitoring illegal marine activities in the region, Somali pirates have carried out 126 attacks so far this year, including 44 successful sea-jackings.

They had captured 49 ships in total last year.

Early April this year saw an unprecedented flurry of hijackings but less favourable weather conditions in recent weeks have led to a relative lull in pirate attacks.

The world's naval powers have deployed dozens of warships to the region over the past year, in a declared attempt to curb attacks by pirates threatening one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.

Observers say piracy can only be eradicated with measures to end the chaos inside Somalia, where close to two decades of war and lawlessness have made piracy one of the few viable businesses.

A month of intense fighting between pro-government forces and hardline insurgents bent on toppling internationally-backed President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has left at least 250 people dead and 100 000 displaced. - AFP