Piracy Summary: Malaysian Tug Captured as German Cargo Ship Released

Ransom paid for cargo ship—no demands for money for tug.

A tugboat owned by Mas Indra Shipping Malaysian Sendirian Bhd leaving Yemen was taken by Somali pirates, no demands have been made as of now.

Meanwhile, the M/V HANSA STAVANGER hijacked on April 4th, 2009 with two Filipinos, three Russians and two Ukrainians, five Germans and 12 Tuvalus were released after the ship’s owner paid a reported $2.7 million in ransom.

The ship was released under its own steam and left under the protection of Alliance Naval forces. The 20,000 ton cargo ship was captured approximate 400 miles from the southern Somali port of Kismayu. The vessel is owned by Leonhardt & Blumberg of Hamburg, and continued to Mombasa where it was met by company representatives.