The Belgian flirt Mv Pompeï released, under Atalanta escort

(B2) The Belgian dredger held hostage by the pirates, the MV Pompéi was finally released on Sunday, June 28. The ten crew members (the Dutch captain, two Belgians, three Filipinos and four Croats) are in good health, according to Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen. The pirates had demanded a ransom of $8 million, explained a spokesperson for the crisis center of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ransom reduced, after a series of contacts and telephone calls (171 very exactly according to the authorities) with the kidnappers, and dropped by plane near the boat. Finally an agreement was made on an amount (quoted by the pirates, but not officially confirmed by the Belgian authorities) of $2,8 million, paid by the shipowner.

The Belgian ship will be escorted to a safe place - as is now the rule for all ships liberated by pirates (to avoid a new capture) - by the Greek frigate of the Eunavfor Atalanta fleet, the Nikoforos Fokas. This was originally intended to lead an escort of merchant ships in the western corridor. But she was replaced by other ships of the Atalanta fleet (the Swedish corvettes HMS Malmö and Stockholm, according to the latest information). Note that a
an investigation was opened at the Belgian King's prosecutor's office. Investigators will be dispatched to collect all the evidence and initiate proceedings.