Somali Pirates Release Chemical Tanker, Indian Crew

Somali pirates released the Fairchem Bogey, a Marshall Islands-flag chemical tanker, and its all-Indian crew on Jan. 14 after five months of captivity, the Indian Shipping Ministry said.

"All the 21 sailors are safe and the ship is now on its way to a safe port," the ministry said.

Officials did not give any other details about the ship’s release, but reports from Somalia said pirates had received a ransom of $8 million. The 25,390-deadweight ton Fairchem Bogey, built in 2010, was seized by pirates Aug. 20, 2010, off the coast of Salalah, Oman, as it sailed from Egypt to the Persian Gulf with a cargo of methanol.

The vessel, reportedly owned by Singapore-based Eurus Maritime Carriers, has been under the management of Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern Ship Management.

The release of the Fairchem Bogey comes a week after international naval forces managed to rescue 20 Indian sailors aboard a Norwegian-flag bulk carrier, called the Spar Rigel, which had come under attack from African pirates off the coast of Nigeria.  Somali pirates were estimated to be holding captive 22 Indian crew members on various foreign-flag vessels, according to the latest figures.