Somali pirates free Greek-owned ship

May 11, 2009, 15:03 GMT

Athens - A Greek-owned chemical tanker seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia in late March has been released, Greece's state-run NET radio reported Monday.

The broadcaster quoted coast guard officials as saying the MT Nipayi, owned by Lotus Shipping, was freed on Saturday after being seized on March 25 as it was sailing 450 nautical miles south of Somalia.

All 19 crew members aboard the tanker, among them one Russian and the remainder Filipinos, were released unharmed.

The 9,000 ton Panama-flagged vessel had no cargo and was en route from Madagascar to the Persian Gulf when taken.

It was not immediately clear if the Greek owners of the vessel had paid the pirates a ransom.

Shipping routes off the coasts of Eastern and Western Africa have become increasingly dangerous in recent months, especially in the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Guinea, off the coast of Cameroon and Nigeria.

Dozens of ships seized by pirates have been eventually released after owners paid tens of millions of dollars in ransom.

Pirates released a British-owned ship and its 16 Bulgarian crew on Saturday after a 2 million dollar ransom was paid.

Western nations have sent warships and helicopters in the region to try to stop the gangs, such as those who are holding hostage 20 vessels with nearly 300 crew members.