Somali Pirates Release Greek Owned VLCC, Hijack German Cargo Ship the Next Day

The Greek flagged MV IRENE SL was released from pirate control on April 7, 2011, according to a release from EU NAVFOR.

The Very Large Crude Carrier was pirated on February 9th approximately 350 nautical miles south east of Muscat in the North Arabian Sea. The vessel and 25 crewmembers onboard are sailing to safe port. The ships owner, First Navigational Special Maritime Enterprise, reports that the crew is safe and in good health.

When the MV IRENE SL was captured, it was carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil with an estimated value of $200 million, from Fujairah to the United States. The ship’s owner did not say if a ransom had been paid. 
 

The following morning, on April 8th, Somali pirates attaked the German owned cargo ship, MV SUSAN K, just 35 miles from the coast of Oman. 

Few details of the attack are known, however EU NAVFOR did report that ten pirates stormed the ship. The Antigua & Barbuda flagged ship was en route from Mumbai to Port Sudan when she was attacked. There is a crew of 10 onboard that includes 4 Ukrainians and 6 Filipinos.

EU NAVFOR reports that the MV SUSAN K was registered with the Maritime Security Council (MSC) and was reporting to the UK Maritime Trade Operations office in Dubai.

Currently pirates are holding 26 vessels and 558 crewmembers hostage.

(Source: EU NAVFOR)