A tanker freed by pirates

(B2) The Olip G, a tanker belonging to a Greek shipowner and flying the Maltese flag, was freed on Sunday morning by the pirates. It had been captured in September 2010. It is one of the oldest catches with the MV Iceberg (captured in March 2010). It is therefore the end of a long ordeal for the 18 sailors (15 Georgians and 3 Turks). The pirates would have received a ransom of $3 million in exchange for this release, according to the Somalia Report site. The number of merchant ships detained has reached one of its lowest levels according to Eunavfor statistics observed by Brussels2: only 7 ships remain detained as well as 176 sailors. Not to mention a few dhows and fishermen from neighboring countries still in the hands of pirates.