Mss-Graphene

All eight crew members of the "MarMalaita" have been released and arrived at the Airport Frankfur/Main on Sep 22, the MC-Schifffahrt in Bahrenfeld announced. All of them were uninjured and in a satisfactory state after an ordeal of more than one month. The three Russian sailors have already been repatriated. The MC-Schifffahrt had negotiated with the pirates several weeks. It was unknown if a ransom has been paid.

Three Russian crew members who had been kidnapped from the "Marmalaita" in August have been released and were taken to Germany. They were to be repatriated on Sep 23. Their health was described as satisfying. The fate of the four Philippinos and one Ukrainian who were kidnapped too was unknown to date.

The pirates, who kidnapped eight sailors, one Ukrainian, three Russians and four Filipinos, from the "Marmaita" off Cameroon, contacted the ship owner Marconsult. A ransom for their release was being negotiated. The talks can last for up to two weeks and the amount of ransom will not be revealed for the captives’ security. The health condition of the Russian captives was said to be satisfactory, and an agreement was reached to supply them with medicines against malaria. The pirates were Nigerians, and presumably, the sailors were taken to Nigeria. An emergency response group was negotiating the release of sailors Russia’s Foreign Ministry said its diplomats are working with Cameroonian officials to accelerate the process of the release of the Russian citizens. The vessel itself was not seized.