(SomaliNet) A Danish cargo ship and its crew that were hijacked by Somali pirates in June have been released after 83 days in captivity after a ransom was paid, the Danish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Danish TV2 News reported security firm Protocols said it had paid ransom of $1.5-million for the release of the ship and crew. | Bad idea to pay ransom, and they ought to know why. |
"We have talked to the crew and they are feeling okay at this point," the Foreign Ministry's head of citizen services Lars Thuesen told a news conference. "It's been a terrible experience for the hostages, being held for more than 80 days not knowing what was going on."
The Foreign Ministry said the crew - a captain, a navigator, a first mate and two less experienced sailors - were in good health considering the circumstances but that they had been threatened by the armed pirates. Andrew Mwangura, director of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers Assistance Programme, also told Reuters by telephone local residents had told him all the crew members were fine. There had been fears the captives were running out of food and fresh water after the vessel's generator broke.
After being freed, the Danica White headed for Djibouti about three days away, escorted by the French corvette Blaison. The crew will fly from there to be reunited with their families.
| Why didn't the French intervene before the ransom was paid? |