Somali Pirates Free Greek Ship With 19 Crew

A Philippine official says Somali pirates have freed a Greek cargo ship with 19 crew members, mostly Filipinos, nearly three months after it was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos said Wednesday the MV Captain Stephanos, a Greek-owned and Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier seized on Sept. 21, was freed on Monday.

He says the 19 crew members, including 17 Filipinos, one Chinese and one Ukrainian, are in good health and the ship was sailing to Italy before proceeding to Greece.

Associated Press

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The French warship Nivose escorts a convoy of commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden on November 25. Somali pirates have moved south to avoid  EU maritime patrols.(AFP/Eric Cabanis)