Tanker released by Somali pirates

A chemical tanker and its 28 North Korean crew member have been freed by Somali pirates. The tanker was hijacked in November north of the Seychelles.

According to Reuters a ransom of $3.5 million was paid to the pirates. The Singapore-operated MV Theresa VIII was seized in November. It was going towards Mombasa, Kenya, when it was hijacked. Somali pirates have managed to earn millions of dollars in ransoms over the past few years. Piracy has continued unabated of the coast of Somali despite international fleets of ships trying to prevent it. In some incidents crew members are injured but the the majority end without violence. Earlier this month the French navy managed to capture some 35 Somali pirates but in most cases the international patrols are forced to release the pirates as they have no jurisdiction in international waters.